Podcasts about usc viterbi school

We are back for a second season of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering Ershaghi Center for Energy Transition podcast! We are joined by two new student co-hosts, Milla and Rochan. Our first episode of season two shares the origin story of the podcast, with important introductions by Dean Yannis Yortos on sustainability and Dr. Don Paul on how the Ershaghi Center for Energy Transition got started. We are excited to debut a new name, The Future of Energy, and host some amazing guests, with each episode focused on a critical element of the future of energy. We publish on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple, and we invite you to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and share your thoughts. Special thanks to Kyle Koerner for his generous support of this project.

Show SummaryOn today's episode, we're featuring a conversation Dr. Eric Rice, Director of the Universe of Southern California Center for Artificial Intelligence in Society. In this episode, we talk about how AI can be used to research challenges faced by at-risk populations, including service members and veterans.  Provide FeedbackAs a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you about the show. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts about the show in this short feedback survey. By doing so, you will be entered to receive a signed copy of one of our host's three books on military and veteran mental health. About Today's GuestEric Rice is a professor, the associate dean for research and the founding co-director of the USC Center for AI in Society, a joint venture of the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work and the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. Rice received a BA from the University of Chicago, and an MA and PhD in Sociology from Stanford University. He was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Los Angeles. He joined the USC faculty in 2009.Rice specializes in social network science and theory, as well as community-based research. His primary focus is on youth experiencing homelessness and how issues of social network influence may affect risk-taking behaviors and resilience. For several years he has worked with colleague Milind Tambe to merge social work science and AI, seeking novel solutions to major social problems such as homelessness and HIV.Rice is the author of more than 150 peer-reviewed articles in such publications as the American Journal of Public Health, AIDS and Behavior, Journal of Adolescent Health, Pediatrics, and Child Development, and the Journal of the Society for Social Work Research. He is the recipient of grants from the National Institute of Mental Health, the California HIV/AIDS Research Program, the Army Research Office and other agencies. In 2012, he received the John B. Reid Early Career Award through the Society for Prevention Research. In 2021, he was inducted as a Fellow of the Society for Social Work Research.Since 2002, Rice has worked closely with homeless youth providers in Los Angeles and many other communities across the country. He is the creator of the TAY Triage Tool — to identify high-risk homeless youth for prioritizing them for supportive housing — which was incorporated into Orgcode's Next Step Tool for homeless youth. Rice's primary collaborators in Los Angeles are the Los Angeles Housing Service Authority, the United Way's Home for Good, the LA LGBT Center, My Friend's Place and Safe Place for Youth.Links Mentioned in this Episode USC CAIS Web siteResearch on suicidal ideation for active duty military membersPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week's resource of the week is an episode of Seeking the Military Suicide Solution with Air Force Captain Michael Kanaan, where we talk about the potential uses of Artificial Intelligence for suicide prevention.  You can find the resource here: https://veteranmentalhealth.com/stmss43/ Episode Partner: Are you an organization that engages with or supports the military affiliated community? Would you like to partner with an engaged and dynamic audience of like-minded professionals? Reach out to Inquire about Partnership Opportunities Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media Email PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur theme music Don't Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families.  You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com  

Jenea and Melyssa discuss Dr. Finley's journey into professorship as a computational researcher/mathematical biologist. --Dr. Stacey Finley is Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Quantitative & Computational Biology, at the University of Southern California and the inaugural holder of the Nichole A. and Thuan Q. Pham Professorship. Dr. Finley received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Florida A & M University and obtained her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern University. She completed postdoctoral training at Johns Hopkins University in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. Dr. Finley joined the faculty at USC in 2013, and she leads the Computational Systems Biology Laboratory. Dr. Finley has a joint appointment in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, and she is a member of the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Finley is also a standing member of the MABS Study Section at NIH. Her research has been supported by grants from the NSF, NIH, and American Cancer Society.Selected honors. 2016 NSF Faculty Early CAREER Award; 2016 Young Innovator by the Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering journal; Leah Edelstein-Keshet Prize from the Society of Mathematical Biology; Junior Research Award from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering; the Hanna Reisler Mentorship Award; 2018 AACR NextGen Star; 2018 Orange County Engineering Council Outstanding Young Engineer; 2021 Elected Fellow of American Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering; 2022 Elected Fellow of the Biomedical Engineering SocietyLab website: https://csbl.usc.edu/ Lab Twitter: https://twitter.com/USCSysBio_LabFollow Dr. Finley's student, Diamond Mangrum, on Instagram (author of the paper referenced by Ijeoma in the episode): https://www.instagram.com/melanated.phd/?hl=en . She aims to demystify the Ph.D. process!------The CompBio Cafe Podcast is brewing up fresh perspectives in the CompBio world. Hosts Jenea Adams and Melyssa Minto, PhD are two trained computational biologists who serve the Black Women in Computational Biology Network (BWCB).Learn more about us at linktr.ee/bwcb.Subscribe to CompBio Cafe wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review once you've listened to a few episodes.

Shavonne Thompson is the Founder of Throttle & Thrive: a detox, substance misuse and mental health facility exclusively serving First Responders & Veterans. Shavonne is passionate about recovery and mental health because she is an alcoholic in recovery and has been sober since January 28, 2013. Prior to launching Throttle & Thrive, Shavonne worked for 13 years in the commercial construction industry. She left her corporate career to pursue her passion of building a treatment facility. Since opening the doors, Throttle & Thrive has enabled first responders and veterans to defeat addiction, heal trauma and restore their families. Shavonne is also a USC Viterbi School of Engineering graduate and is originally from Ventura, California.Please support this podcast by taking a look at our sponsors:Bridges of Hope: https://bhoperehab.com/MyPodcast.Media: https://MyPodcast.MediaPODCAST INFO:Host: Skip OMental Health Minute: Mel HExecutive Producer: Shawn P NealA Two On The Lobster Production#firefighter #firstresponder #ems #emt #police #lawenforcement #military #trauma #recovery #recoveryispossible #substanceusedisorder #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters

California, the nation's leader in clean energy and climate policies, has set an ambitious goal to achieve net zero carbon pollution by 2045. But what will it take? How might the policies affect the availability, reliability, and price of power consumption? This panel will address the political, technological, economic, as well as human and societal factors that play into our energy system and explore what must do to achieve our energy goals. Moderator: Genevieve Giuliano is a Distinguished Professor and the Margaret and John Ferraro Chair in Effective Local Government at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy. She is the former director of the USC METRANS Transportation Consortium and, at the state level, she is working with Caltrans and CARB on the implementation of the California Sustainable Freight Action Plan. Najmedin Meshkati is a professor of Civil/Environmental Engineering, Industrial & Systems Engineering, and International Relations at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. For the past 35 years, he has been teaching and conducting research on risk reduction and reliability enhancement of complex technological systems, including nuclear power. Gale Sinatra is the author of Science Denial: Why It Happens and What to Do About It. She is a professor of Psychology and the Stephen H. Crocker Professor of Education at the USC Rossier School of Education. Her areas of expertise include climate science education and the public understanding of science.

In this episode of the Energy Transition Talk, we explore our relationship with critical minerals. First, Paulina chats with Lauren Bridges, who researches industrial scale computing at Harvard University, and Zane Cooper, who researches digital media infrastructure and rare earth mineral extraction at the University of Pennsylvania. Lauren and Zane have also formed a research collaboration on critical minerals and e-waste. They talk about what critical materials are and why they matter for the energy transition, the relationship between the energy transition and the digital transformation, reframing energy as a dynamic process and a relationship rather than a material that we need to produce, rethinking the infrastructure design in our society and shifting energy demand, the e-waste feedback loop, and more. Justine then speaks with Prachotan Bathi, a Master's student in computer science at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, who works for a cleantech startup that identifies sustainable lithium mining sites for the EV supply chain. They discuss the importance of lithium as a critical mineral for the energy transition, the environmental footprint of lithium mining and EVs compared to gas vehicles, the ways companies are working to make lithium mining more sustainable, and the biggest challenges and opportunities of lithium mining. 01:54 Interview with Lauren Bridges and Zane Cooper 52:06 Interview with Prachotan Bathi 1:11:00 Concluding Remarks Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast so you can automatically get access to our new episodes – you can find us on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. And we would appreciate it so much if you could leave a rating and review. Special thanks to our guests for today and Abhi, our technical guru, for their important contributions to today's episode. This podcast is sponsored by the USC Ershaghi Center for Energy Transition. Referenced in this Episode and Additional Resources: Cara New Daggett, The Birth of Energy: Fossil Fuels, Thermodynamics, and the Politics of Work, https://www.dukeupress.edu/the-birth-of-energy Josh Lepawsky, Reassembling Rubbish: Worlding Electronic Waste, https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262535335/reassembling-rubbish/ Josh Lepawsky and Max Liboiron, Discard Studies: Wasting, Systems, and Power, https://direct.mit.edu/books/oa-monograph/5337/Discard-StudiesWasting-Systems-and-Power Max Liboiron, Pollution Is Colonialism, https://www.dukeupress.edu/pollution-is-colonialism U.S. Department of Energy, Critical Minerals and Materials Program, https://www.energy.gov/cmm/critical-minerals-materials-program U.S. Department of Energy, “What are Critical Materials and Critical Minerals?”, https://www.energy.gov/cmm/what-are-critical-materials-and-critical-minerals#:~:text=DOE%20has%20determined%20the%20final,silicon%2C%20silicon%20carbide%20and%20terbium Sierra Club Working Group on Lithium Mining, “Guidance on Lithium Mining and Extraction” (Aug. 23, 2021), https://andthewest.stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Lithium-Mining-Guidelines_approved_13Nov20214.pdf Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Energy Transition Talk series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of the Ershaghi Center for Energy Transition (E-CET) or the producers of this podcast.

In this episode we discuss:[00:02:12] How did Nitin's definition of "impact" change over time?[00:03:44] When did Nitin join the VC industry, and what was the market condition at that time?[00:07:54] What was the most important lesson Nitin learned from his time at NEA (New Enterprise Associates)?[00:10:50] How is the VC industry different in the US compared to India?[00:16:06] What are some things that founders in India don't understand about VCs?[00:20:29] Why did Nitin become interested in EdTech?[00:23:00] What is Nitin's view on the future of EdTech in India and the role of AI in the sector?[00:27:00] What is Antler and what is its mission in the startup ecosystem?[00:28:23] What specific pain points is Antler India addressing for founders in the ideation phase?[00:29:01] How does Antler differentiate itself from traditional venture capitalists?[00:30:30] How does Antler's global network benefit startups in India and help them think about their products and teams differently?[00:31:14] What does Antler focus on in the early stage investing process, particularly at the pre-seed stage?[00:31:54] Does Antler only look for future founders in colleges or does it consider applicants from various backgrounds?[00:32:35] What is the Antler India Fellowship, and how does it help democratize entrepreneurship?[00:35:00] How does Antler reduce the cost of experimenting and building startups, and what are the key factors that Antler considers when evaluating founders?[00:38:00] What are the challenges and limitations of venture capital in India?[00:41:25] What factors make India a promising market for startups, and what are some counter examples that indicate the potential for significant success?[00:44:00] What is the role of a VC, and what are the key learnings and qualities required to be successful in venture capital?[00:47:29] How do ONDC and Web3 differ in their approach to decentralization, and what are the challenges and opportunities for both?[00:52:15] What are some of the potential benefits of ONDC for small businesses in India, and how could it bridge the gap between digital payments and digital commerce?[00:54:16] Where does Nitin see Antler India in 10 years and what is the desired impact on the startup ecosystem?AboutNitin is a seasoned early-stage investor, having invested in 60+ tech startups in multiple geographies. With First Principles, he built a thesis-driven proprietary portfolio of 40+ angel investments backed by marquee investors. As the founder of Incrypt Blockchain, he has been the first Indian VC to play an active role in fostering India's blockchain ecosystem. Nitin and his team have invested in 16 blockchain projects since 2017, with the Incrypt Blockchain portfolio spanning projects such as Arweave, Mudrex, OnJuno, BAT, Ocean, Molecule, Persistence and more.Previously, Nitin was a founding team principal at Lightbox Ventures, one of India's leading consumer-focused VCs, where he helped build the first two funds since the very inception.Earlier in his career, he learnt the ropes of the VC business in the US, while being at New Enterprise Associates (NEA), one of the world's preeminent venture funds. At NEA, he worked on multiple investments with successful IPO/M&A outcomes (Millennial Media, AddThis, OPower, etc.) and co-led the firm's first education technology investment. He also served as an early executive at EverFi (one of the world's largest education networks, $250M raised), and started his career as a technology investment banker at UBS Investment Bank in San Francisco.Nitin holds an MBA from The Wharton School, and two degrees from the University of Southern California. He serves on the India Advisory Boards of AngelList, the USC Viterbi School and The Better India, and advises the Indian government (NITI Aayog) on frontier tech policy.

Dr. Gaurav Sukhatme, Professor of Computer Science and Electrical & Computer Engineering at USC, joins BrainChip CMO, Nandan Nayampally, to discuss the fields of AI and robotics. With more than three decades of experience in the field, Dr. Sukhatme is the co-director of the USC Robotics Research Laboratory and is the director of the USC Robotic Embedded Systems Laboratory, which he founded in 2000. He is a recognized expert in the fields of networked robots, learning robots and field robotics. He holds the Fletcher Jones Foundation Endowed Chair in Computer Science and serves as the Executive Vice Dean at the USC Viterbi School of Engineers, in addition to being an Amazon Scholar. Dr. Sukhatme has focused on developing algorithms, techniques, and tools to design and understand large-scale, distributed, networked robotic systems with an emphasis on environmental monitoring. He also works in learning and planning for robot grasping and manipulation. “Gaurav's deep knowledge and dedication to the field of robotics and artificial intelligence has inspired and equipped the next generation of technology innovators to drive these fields forward both in academic research as well as in the industry,” said Nayampally. “He brings great insights into the evolution of modern robotics, AI and autonomy, and his belief in the future of intelligent compute is contagious and I'm excited that we can share these with our audience.” The “This is Our Mission” podcast provides AI industry insight to listeners including users, developers, analysts, technical and financial press, and investors.

From Chat GPT to artificial intelligence showing up in everything from newswriting to youth sports apps, AI is suddenly ubiquitous and it seems here to stay. Will it really replace human thought and effort, or is it just another tool to make our lives more efficient? How will we able to tell when something was written by a computer and not by a thinking human being? Should we fear the spread of artificial intelligence or embrace it? How do you know I wrote these words, and not a ChatBot? For more, KCBS Radio's Political Report Doug Sovern spoke with Wael AbdAlmadeed, a research associate professor at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, where he is an expert on deepfakes, among other things, in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Information Science Institute.

In this episode our host Elena Melchert and Uduak-Joe Ntuk discuss upstream oil and gas in California including Mr. Ntuk's insights as    California's former chief petroleum regulator More information about E-CET can be found at https://ecet.usc.edu/ This episode is made possible by TechnipFMC Click here to take it one question survey and receive OGGN hardhat/laptop stickers Brought to you on Oil and Gas Global Network, the largest and most listened-to podcast network for the oil and energy industry. More from OGGN ... Podcasts LinkedIn Group LinkedIn Company Page Get notified about industry events

Dr. Darin Gray is the Director of the USC Viterbi K-12 STEM Center and CS@SC Coding Camps. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Biomedical and Electrical Engineering from USC Viterbi School of Engineering, a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics from USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences,  a Master's degree in teaching with an emphasis in mathematics from USC Rossier School of Education, a Master's degree in Cybersecurity from Cal State San Marcos and a Doctorate in Education Technology from Boise State University. He also holds teaching credentials in math and science. He teaches an introduction to engineering course and a cybersecurity seminar at USC. Darin is also an IT and cybersecurity engineer for California State Guard (CSG).Support the show

This episode is a conversation with Kuntal Joisher, the first vegan to summit Mount Everest. I've known Kuntal for many years – we went to the same college and later took different paths. Thanks to social media, I've been able to follow his work. Kuntal is a computer engineer turned mountaineer who's accomplished four summits of 8000'ers and 20+ summits of 6000'er mountains. The most surprising part – Kuntal was scared of heights. Go figure!It's refreshing to hear a different voice to understand the process of achieving challenging goals.  His idea of climbing mountains is to ensure success in a healthy state. Kuntal shares his preparation techniques, both mental and physical, to conquer our inner Everests.HighlightsSummiting Mount Everest twice without having the expressed ambition to do so. 3:02Does being cautious work against you in high-risk situations? 9:32Difference between preparing and training for a mountaineering expedition 16:54What mental preparation looks like? 20:20How does one determine a hand-over for events when their mind doesn't work clearly? 28:28What it feels like at the top of the world 35:06Difference between South Side vs North Side Summit expeditions on Everest 39:20Vegan diet and mountaineering 41:50Climbing with equipment that's vegan-friendly 44:29Where to follow KuntalInstagram: Kuntal A. Joisher (@kuntalj) • Instagram photos and videosFacebook: (20+) Kuntal Joisher | FacebookLinkedIn: (2) Kuntal Joisher | LinkedInKuntal's BioKuntal Joisher combines the distinction of being both an accomplished mountaineer and a high-end, computer science professional. He is an alumnus of Vivekanand Institute of Technology, Mumbai, and USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Los Angeles. His insatiable passion for mountaineering has led him to climb mountain ranges across the world, including the Western Ghats near Mumbai, the Northern Icecap in Chile, the Andes in Argentina, and the Nepalese and Indian Himalaya. Joisher has climbed to the top of Mt. Everest from both Nepal side (May 2016), and China side (May 2019). Some of his other notable climbs are the ascent of Manaslu (October 2014), Lhotse (May 2018), and Aconcagua (Feb 2020) among others. He is a well-respected photographer, and his work has been published in National Geographic, BBC Earth, Space.com, Himalayan Journal, The Outdoor Journal, Time Out, Traveler Trails, Indian Mountaineer, and several other newspapers and magazines across the world. Joisher has been named one of India's top 30 fitness influencers, has been featured on cover of magazines across India and the world, and has also been featured on the TEDx platform multiple times. Joisher is an athlete ambassador for the Italian company “Save the Duck”, and represents them while mountaineering across the world.Joisher regularly travels across the world to speak about his life transforming journey of climbing Mt. Everest in hopes to inspire his audience to pursue their dreams and passions. Joisher continues to train hard both mentally & physically, and his latest project is to compete in a natural bodybuilding competition, and follow it up by climbing the 7 summits - both in a 100% #Vegan fashion in the next 2 years. In addition to his dedication to mountaineering and bodybuilding, Joisher is passionate about three causes: raising awareness about the disease of Dementia, spreading the message of Veganism, and education of the underprivileged in Nepal.When Joisher is not climbing, he works as a nutrition and fitness coach helping people make smarter choices, build better habits, and overall lead a healthy and fit life!

In this episode, Paul and the rest of the admissions team answer any and all questions related to transferring to the USC Viterbi School of Engineering.

Amazon indigenous group's lifestyle may hold a key to slowing down aging Tsimane people are unique for their healthy brains that age more slowly   University of Southern California, May 27, 2021 A team of international researchers has found that the Tsimane indigenous people of the Bolivian Amazon experience less brain atrophy than their American and European peers. The decrease in their brain volumes with age is 70% slower than in Western populations. Accelerated brain volume loss can be a sign of dementia.  The study was published May 26, 2021 in the Journal of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences.  Although people in industrialized nations have access to modern medical care, they are more sedentary and eat a diet high in saturated fats. In contrast, the Tsimane have little or no access to health care but are extremely physically active and consume a high-fiber diet that includes vegetables, fish and lean meat.  "The Tsimane have provided us with an amazing natural experiment on the potentially detrimental effects of modern lifestyles on our health," said study author Andrei Irimia, an assistant professor of gerontology, neuroscience and biomedical engineering at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. "These findings suggest that brain atrophy may be slowed substantially by the same lifestyle factors associated with very low risk of heart disease."  The researchers enrolled 746 Tsimane adults, ages 40 to 94, in their study. To acquire brain scans, they provided transportation for the participants from their remote villages to Trinidad, Bolivia, the closest town with CT scanning equipment. That journey could last as long as two full days with travel by river and road.  The team used the scans to calculate brain volumes and then examined their association with age for Tsimane. Next, they compared these results to those in three industrialized populations in the U.S. and Europe.  The scientists found that the difference in brain volumes between middle age and old age is 70% smaller in Tsimane than in Western populations. This suggests that the Tsimane's brains likely experience far less brain atrophy than Westerners as they age; atrophy is correlated with risk of cognitive impairment, functional decline and dementia.  The researchers note that the Tsimane have high levels of inflammation, which is typically associated with brain atrophy in Westerners. But their study suggests that high inflammation does not have a pronounced effect upon Tsimane brains.  According to the study authors, the Tsimane's low cardiovascular risks may outweigh their infection-driven inflammatory risk, raising new questions about the causes of dementia. One possible reason is that, in Westerners, inflammation is associated with obesity and metabolic causes whereas, in the Tsimane, it is driven by respiratory, gastrointestinal, and parasitic infections. Infectious diseases are the most prominent cause of death among the Tsimane.  "Our sedentary lifestyle and diet rich in sugars and fats may be accelerating the loss of brain tissue with age and making us more vulnerable to diseases such as Alzheimer's," said study author Hillard Kaplan, a professor of health economics and anthropology at Chapman University who has studied the Tsimane for nearly two decades. "The Tsimane can serve as a baseline for healthy brain aging."  Healthier hearts and -- new research shows -- healthier brains  The indigenous Tsimane people captured scientists' -- and the world's -- attention when an earlier study found them to have extraordinarily healthy hearts in older age. That prior study, published by the Lancet in 2017, showed that Tsimane have the lowest prevalence of coronary atherosclerosis of any population known to science and that they have few cardiovascular disease risk factors. The very low rate of heart disease among the roughly 16,000 Tsimane is very likely related to their pre-industrial subsistence lifestyle of hunting, gathering, fishing, and farming.  "This study demonstrates that the Tsimane stand out not only in terms of heart health, but brain health as well," Kaplan said. "The findings suggest ample opportunities for interventions to improve brain health, even in populations with high levels of inflammation."   Tai chi about equal to conventional exercise for reducing belly fat in middle aged and older adults University of Hong Kong, May 31, 2021 A randomized controlled trial found that tai chi is about as effective as conventional exercise for reducing waist circumference in middle-aged and older adults with central obesity. Central obesity, or weight carried around the midsection, is a major manifestation of metabolic syndrome and a common health problem in this cohort. The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.  Tai chi is a form of mind-body exercise often described as "meditation in motion." It is practiced in many Asian communities and is becoming increasingly popular in Western countries, with more than 2 million people practicing it in the United States. While it is known to be a suitable activity for older people including those who are not active, there previously has been little evidence on tai chi's health benefits.  Researchers from the University of Hong Kong randomly assigned more than 500 adults over 50 with central obesity to a regimen of tai chi, conventional exercise, or no exercise over 3 months. Participants in the tai chi and exercise groups met for instructor-led workouts for 1 hour 3 times a week for 12 weeks. The tai chi program consisted of the Yang style of tai chi, the most common style adopted in the literature, and the conventional exercise program consisted of brisk walking and strength training activities. Waist circumference and other indicators of metabolic health were measured at baseline, 12 weeks, and 38 weeks. The researchers found that both the tai chi intervention and conventional exercise intervention group had reductions in waist circumference, relative to control. The reduction in waist circumference had a favorable impact on HDL cholesterol, or so-called good cholesterol, but did not translate into detectable differences in fasting glucose or blood pressure.  According to the study authors, their findings are good news for middle-aged and older adults who have central obesity but may be averse to conventional exercise due to preference or limited mobility.   Prenatal exposure to paracetamol associated with ADHD and autism symptoms in childhood Study of more than 70,000 European children bolsters the findings of previous research Barcelona Institute for Global Health (Spain), May 31, 2021 An epidemiological study of more than 70,000 children in six European cohorts has linked symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum conditions (ASC) to the mothers' use of paracetamol (acetaminophen) during pregnancy. The study, published in the European Journal of Epidemiology, was led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a centre supported by the "la Caixa" Foundation.  In total, the researchers analysed 73,881 children for whom data were available on prenatal or postnatal exposure to paracetamol, at least one symptom of ASC or ADHD, and main covariates. Depending on the cohort, 14% to 56% of the mothers reported taking paracetamol while pregnant.  The study found that children exposed to paracetamol before birth were 19% more likely to develop ASC symptoms and 21% more likely to develop ADHD symptoms than children who were not exposed.  "Our findings are consistent with previous research," explained ISGlobal researcher Sílvia Alemany, lead author of the study. "We also found that prenatal exposure to paracetamol affects boys and girls in a similar way, as we observed practically no differences."  "Our results address some of the weaknesses of previous meta-analyses," commented Jordi Sunyer, researcher at ISGlobal and last author of the study. "Considering all the evidence on the use of paracetamol and neurological development, we agree with previous recommendations indicating that while paracetamol should not be suppressed in pregnant women or children, it should be used only when necessary."  At some point during pregnancy, an estimated 46%-56% of pregnant women in developed countries use paracetamol, which is considered the safest analgesic/antipyretic for pregnant women and children. However, mounting evidence has linked prenatal paracetamol exposure to poorer cognitive performance, more behavioural problems, and ASC and ADHD symptoms. Those previous studies have been criticised for their heterogeneity. In the new study, therefore, "an effort was made to harmonise the assessment of ADHD and ASC symptoms and the definition of paracetamol exposure," explained Alemany. "The sample is large," she added, "and it includes cohorts from multiple European countries: the United Kingdom, Denmark, the Netherlands, Italy, Greece and Spain. We also used the same criteria for all of the cohorts, thereby reducing the heterogeneity of criteria that has hampered previous studies."  The study also analysed postnatal exposure to paracetamol and found no association between paracetamol use during childhood and ASC symptoms. Nevertheless, the research team concluded that further studies are needed, given the heterogeneity of postnatal paracetamol exposure among the various cohorts, which ranged from 6% to 92.8%. The six cohorts included the study were as follows:   1. Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) 2. Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC)  3. Gene and Environment: Prospective Study on Infancy in Italy (GASPII)  4. Generation R Study 5. INMA (including four subcohorts) 6. Mother-Child Cohort in Crete (RHEA)     Waking just one hour earlier cuts depression risk by double digits University of Colorado, May 28, 2021 Waking up just one hour earlier could reduce a person's risk of major depression by 23%, suggests a sweeping new genetic study published May 26 in the journal JAMA Psychiatry. The study of 840,000 people, by researchers at University of Colorado Boulder and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, represents some of the strongest evidence yet that chronotype--a person's propensity to sleep at a certain time --influences depression risk.  It's also among the first studies to quantify just how much, or little, change is required to influence mental health.  As people emerge, post-pandemic, from working and attending school remotely-- a trend that has led many to shift to a later sleep schedule--the findings could have important implications.  "We have known for some time that there is a relationship between sleep timing and mood, but a question we often hear from clinicians is: How much earlier do we need to shift people to see a benefit?" said senior author Celine Vetter, assistant professor of integrative physiology at CU Boulder. "We found that even one-hour earlier sleep timing is associated with significantly lower risk of depression." Previous observational studies have shown that night owls are as much as twice as likely to suffer from depression as early risers, regardless of how long they sleep. But because mood disorders themselves can disrupt sleep patterns, researchers have had a hard time deciphering what causes what. Other studies have had small sample sizes, relied on questionnaires from a single time point, or didn't account for environmental factors which can influence both sleep timing and mood, potentially confounding results.  In 2018, Vetter published a large, long term study of 32,000 nurses showing that "early risers" were up to 27% less likely to develop depression over the course of four years, but that begged the question: What does it mean to be an early riser? To get a clearer sense of whether shifting sleep time earlier is truly protective, and how much shift is required, lead author Iyas Daghlas, M.D., turned to data from the DNA testing company 23 and Me and the biomedical database UK Biobank. Daghlas then used a method called "Mendelian randomization" that leverages genetic associations to help decipher cause and effect.  "Our genetics are set at birth so some of the biases that affect other kinds of epidemiological research tend not to affect genetic studies," said Daghlas, who graduated in May from Harvard Medical School.  More than 340 common genetic variants, including variants in the so-called "clock gene" PER2, are known to influence a person's chronotype, and genetics collectively explains 12-42% of our sleep timing preference.  The researchers assessed deidentified genetic data on these variants from up to 850,000 individuals, including data from 85,000 who had worn wearable sleep trackers for 7 days and 250,000 who had filled out sleep-preference questionnaires. This gave them a more granular picture, down to the hour, of how variants in genes influence when we sleep and wake up.  In the largest of these samples, about a third of surveyed subjects self-identified as morning larks, 9% were night owls and the rest were in the middle. Overall, the average sleep mid-point was 3 a.m., meaning they went to bed at 11 p.m. and got up at 6 a.m. With this information in hand, the researchers turned to a different sample which included genetic information along with anonymized medical and prescription records and surveys about diagnoses of major depressive disorder.  Using novel statistical techniques, they asked: Do those with genetic variants which predispose them to be early risers also have lower risk of depression? The answer is a firm yes.  Each one-hour earlier sleep midpoint (halfway between bedtime and wake time) corresponded with a 23% lower risk of major depressive disorder. This suggests that if someone who normally goes to bed at 1 a.m. goes to bed at midnight instead and sleeps the same duration, they could cut their risk by 23%; if they go to bed at 11 p.m., they could cut it by about 40%. It's unclear from the study whether those who are already early risers could benefit from getting up even earlier. But for those in the intermediate range or evening range, shifting to an earlier bedtime would likely be helpful. What could explain this effect? Some research suggests that getting greater light exposure during the day, which early-risers tend to get, results in a cascade of hormonal impacts that can influence mood. Others note that having a biological clock, or circadian rhythm, that trends differently than most peoples' can in itself be depressing. "We live in a society that is designed for morning people, and evening people often feel as if they are in a constant state of misalignment with that societal clock," said Daghlas. He stresses that a large randomized clinical trial is necessary to determine definitively whether going to bed early can reduce depression. "But this study definitely shifts the weight of evidence toward supporting a causal effect of sleep timing on depression."  For those wanting to shift themselves to an earlier sleep schedule, Vetter offers this advice: "Keep your days bright and your nights dark," she says. "Have your morning coffee on the porch. Walk or ride your bike to work if you can, and dim those electronics in the evening."     Olive oil nutrient may help prevent brain cancer University of Edinburgh, June 2, 2021 A compound found in olive oil may help to prevent cancer developing in the brain, a study shows. Research into oleic acid – the primary ingredient in olive oil – has shown how it can help prevent cancer-causing genes from functioning in cells. The oily substance – one of a group of nutrients known as fatty acids – stimulates the production of a cell molecule whose function is to prevent cancer-causing proteins from forming. The study team says it is too soon to say whether dietary consumption of olive oil may help prevent brain cancer. Their findings, however, point towards possible therapies based on the oil to prevent brain cancer from occurring. Scientists from the University analysed the effect of oleic acid on a cell molecule, known as miR-7, which is active in the brain and is known to suppress the formation of tumours. They found that oleic acid prevents a cell protein, known as MSI2, from stopping production of miR-7. In this way, the olive oil component supports the production of miR-7, which helps prevent tumours from forming. Researchers made their discoveries in tests on human cell extracts and in living cells in the lab. The study, published in the Journal of Molecular Biology, was funded by the Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust. "While we cannot yet say that olive oil in the diet helps prevent brain cancer, our findings do suggest that oleic acid can support the production of tumour-suppressing molecules in cells grown in the lab. Further studies could help determine the role that olive oil might have in brain health," says Dr Gracjan Michlewski.   Study: Boosting selenium intake can help reduce osteoporosis risk Central South University (China), May 29, 2021 Researchers from China have found that increased selenium intake may reduce a person’s risk for osteoporosis. In their report, experts from Central South University in Changsha recruited over 6,200 participants and measured the bone mineral density in the middle phalanges of the second to fourth fingers of their non-dominant hand. The team then assessed the participants’ dietary patterns, particularly their selenium intake, through a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire which the subjects answered twice within three weeks. After analyzing the participants’ bone mineral density using a compact radiographic absorptiometry system, the team discovered that 9.6 percent of the subjects have osteoporosis. The majority of the cases were reported among women, with 19.7 percent having been diagnosed with the disease. Among men, only 2.3 percent were diagnosed with osteoporosis. The researchers also compared the dietary data of those diagnosed with osteoporosis to those who were not. They found that there are significant differences between the participants in terms of age, gender, smoking and drinking habits, BMI, blood pressure levels, physical activity levels, nutrient supplementation, dietary calcium intake, dietary fiber intake and dietary energy intake. The factors above were measured as they are considered to be vital for the development and prevention of osteoporosis. But most of all, the team observed a significant difference between the subjects with osteoporosis and those who don’t have the disease in terms of dietary selenium intake. The researchers found that those who have osteoporosis also have lower levels of dietary selenium consumption. A person can increase his selenium intake by eating Brazil nuts, fish, shellfish, beef, turkey, chicken, fortified cereals, whole-wheat bread, beans, lentils and eggs. The recommended dietary allowance for selenium is 55 micrograms per day for adult men and women above 19 years old. For pregnant and lactating women, the recommended intake is between 60 to 70 micrograms per day. However, in the study, which involved Chinese citizens, the participants’ selenium intake averaged only 43.5 micrograms per day. This is comparable to the average daily selenium intake of Europeans, which is 40 micrograms per day. The low selenium intake of both populations could be due to the low-selenium content of the soil in both areas. Selenium and thyroid hormones Selenium primarily functions in the body as an essential component of selenoproteins, composed of various enzymes and proteins that help protect the cells from damage and infections. Selenoproteins are also needed in producing DNA and in the metabolism of thyroid hormones. The thyroid glands have the highest concentration of selenium in the body. In connection to thyroid hormones, the researchers postulated that low selenium levels might have increased the level of thyroid hormones in the blood, which may have caused an accelerated bone loss and osteoporosis in the subjects with low dietary selenium intake. Thyroid problems have indirect correlations with osteoporosis and are considered as secondary causes. This means that elevated thyroid hormone levels don’t directly cause osteoporosis, but they can influence how the body maintains a healthy mineral bone density. In addition, hyperthyroidism, a thyroid disorder characterized by too much production of a thyroid hormone thyroxine, is considered as having a close link to the development of osteoporosis. This is because elevated levels of thyroxine accelerate the process of bone degradation, which is conducted by the osteoclasts. Osteoclasts are the cells that dissolvethe bones, initiating new bone production, which is conducted by another cell — the osteoblasts. Excessive thyroxine levels make the osteoclasts work faster than the osteoblasts, causing the bones to be fragile or brittle. However, the researchers in the study did not confirm a causal relationship between dietary selenium intake and osteoporosis, but future studies are underway to provide support to their findings.   Juvenile selenium deficiency impairs cognition and energy homeostasis  University of Hawaii, May 26, 2021 According to news originating from Honolulu, Hawaii, by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, “Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient of critical importance to mammalian life.” The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from University of Hawaii: “Its biological effects are primarily mediated via co-translational incorporation into selenoproteins, as the unique amino acid, selenocysteine. These proteins play fundamental roles in redox signaling and includes the glutathione peroxidases and thioredoxin reductases. Environmental distribution of Se varies considerably worldwide, with concomitant effects on Se status in humans and animals. Dietary Se intake within a narrow range optimizes the activity of Se-dependent antioxidant enzymes, whereas both Se-deficiency and Se-excess can adversely impact health. Se-deficiency affects a significant proportion of the world’s population, with hypothyroidism, cardiomyopathy, reduced immunity, and impaired cognition being common symptoms. Although relatively less prevalent, Se-excess can also have detrimental consequences and has been implicated in promoting both metabolic and neurodegenerative disease in humans.” According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Herein, we sought to comprehensively assess the developmental effects of both Se-deficiency and Se-excess on a battery of neurobehavioral and metabolic tests in mice. Se-deficiency elicited deficits in cognition, altered sensorimotor gating, and increased adiposity, while Se-excess was surprisingly beneficial.”

Join David Nour and Randy Seidl on this episode of the Sales Community's Tech Sales Insights Podcast with Keegan Riley, the Chief Revenue Officer for Sysdig. Sysdig is a San Francisco-based cybersecurity startup with over $200M in VC funding from Accel Partners, Bain Capital Ventures, Insight Venture Partners, Glynn Capital, and Goldman Sachs. Before joining Sysdig in 2018, Keegan was VP and General Manager of North America Data Storage at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, running a $1.5B/year P&L. He joined HPE via the acquisition of Nimble Storage, where as VP of Americas Sales he helped build the company from VC backed startup, through a successful IPO, and the eventual acquisition to HPE. Prior to Nimble, he held engineering, sales, and leadership roles at HP Lefthand Networks, EMC Corporation, and multiple startups. Outside of work, Keegan dedicates most of his philanthropic efforts to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. He is part of the St. Jude Chicago Advisory Council and serves as the Committee Chair for the St. Jude Chicago Golf Classic, an event that has raised over $25M for the St. Jude Mission. He's also participated in the St. Jude Memphis Marathon several times as a sponsor, fundraiser, and (very slow 5k) runner. Keegan holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, and an MBA in Management and Organization from the USC Marshall School of Business. He lives in the Chicago area with his wife and two daughters. Keegan is also our Tech Sales Insights Live on LinkedIn today at Noon ET - Join us! Show notes from this podcast will be featured in the Sales Community. Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/salescommunity/message

Working with the federal government and the city of Los Angeles, USC researchers have identified pathways to a zero-emissions future for the megalopolis in 25 years, a new report shows. But how do you get there from here? What are the challenges and benefits? And can L.A. become a clean-energy model for other cities? Join Sammy Roth, energy reporter for the Los Angeles Times, Lauren Faber O'Connor, city of Los Angeles' chief sustainability officer, Adam Rose, professor at the USC Price School of Public Policy, and Kelly Sanders, professor at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, for a lively discussion about Southern California's sustainable future.

Dr. Brandi Jones, vice dean for diversity and strategic initiatives at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, speaks about her life's work, the people who have shaped her and those whose lives she has shaped — as well as her experiences leading equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives at some of the nation’s top engineering schools.

Timestamps(2:55) Chris went over his experience studying Computer Science at the University of Southern California for undergraduate in the late 90s.(5:26) Chris recalled working as a Software Engineer at NASA Jet Propulsion Lab in his sophomore year at USC.(9:54) Chris continued his education at USC with an M.S. and then a Ph.D. in Computer Science. Under the guidance of Dr. Nenad Medvidović, his Ph.D. thesis is called “Software Connectors For Highly-Distributed And Voluminous Data-Intensive Systems.” He proposed DISCO, a software architecture-based systematic framework for selecting software connectors based on eight key dimensions of data distribution.(16:28) Towards the end of his Ph.D., Chris started getting involved with the Apache Software Foundation. More specifically, he developed the original proposal and plan for Apache Tika (a content detection and analysis toolkit) in collaboration with Jérôme Charron to extract data in the Panama Papers, exposing how wealthy individuals exploited offshore tax regimes.(24:58) Chris discussed his process of writing “Tika In Action,” which he co-authored with Jukka Zitting in 2011.(27:01) Since 2007, Chris has been a professor in the Department of Computer Science at USC Viterbi School of Engineering. He went over the principles covered in his course titled “Software Architectures.”(29:49) Chris touched on the core concepts and practical exercises that students could gain from his course “Information Retrieval and Web Search Engines.”(32:10) Chris continued with his advanced course called “Content Detection and Analysis for Big Data” in recent years (check out this USC article).(36:31) Chris also served as the Director of the USC’s Information Retrieval and Data Science group, whose mission is to research and develop new methodology and open source software to analyze, ingest, process, and manage Big Data and turn it into information.(41:07) Chris unpacked the evolution of his career at NASA JPL: Member of Technical Staff -> Senior Software Architect -> Principal Data Scientist -> Deputy Chief Technology and Innovation Officer -> Division Manager for the AI, Analytics, and Innovation team.(44:32) Chris dove deep into MEMEX — a JPL’s project that aims to develop software that advances online search capabilities to the deep web, the dark web, and nontraditional content.(48:03) Chris briefly touched on XDATA — a JPL’s research effort to develop new computational techniques and open-source software tools to process and analyze big data.(52:23) Chris described his work on the Object-Oriented Data Technology platform, an open-source data management system originally developed by NASA JPL and then donated to the Apache Software Foundation.(55:22) Chris shared the scientific challenges and engineering requirements associated with developing the next generation of reusable science data processing systems for NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory space mission and the Soil Moisture Active Passive earth science mission.(01:01:05) Chris talked about his work on NASA’s Machine Learning-based Analytics for Autonomous Rover Systems — which consists of two novel capabilities for future Mars rovers (Drive-By Science and Energy-Optimal Autonomous Navigation).(01:04:24) Chris quantified the Apache Software Foundation's impact on the software industry in the past decade and discussed trends in open-source software development.(01:07:15) Chris unpacked his 2013 Nature article called “A vision for data science” — in which he argued that four advancements are necessary to get the best out of big data: algorithm integration, development and stewardship, diverse data formats, and people power.(01:11:54) Chris revealed the challenges of writing the second edition of “Machine Learning with TensorFlow,” a technical book with Manning that teaches the foundational concepts of machine learning and the TensorFlow library's usage to build powerful models rapidly.(01:15:04) Chris mentioned the differences between working in academia and industry.(01:16:20) Chris described the tech and data community in the greater Los Angeles area.(01:18:30) Closing segment.His Contact InfoWikipediaNASA PageGoogle ScholarUSC PageTwitterLinkedInGitHubHis Recommended ResourcesDoug Cutting (Founder of Lucene and Hadoop)Hilary Mason (Ex Data Scientist at bit.ly and Cloudera)Jukka Zitting (Staff Software Engineer at Google)"The One Minute Manager" (by Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson)

Timestamps(2:55) Chris went over his experience studying Computer Science at the University of Southern California for undergraduate in the late 90s.(5:26) Chris recalled working as a Software Engineer at NASA Jet Propulsion Lab in his sophomore year at USC.(9:54) Chris continued his education at USC with an M.S. and then a Ph.D. in Computer Science. Under the guidance of Dr. Nenad Medvidović, his Ph.D. thesis is called “Software Connectors For Highly-Distributed And Voluminous Data-Intensive Systems.” He proposed DISCO, a software architecture-based systematic framework for selecting software connectors based on eight key dimensions of data distribution.(16:28) Towards the end of his Ph.D., Chris started getting involved with the Apache Software Foundation. More specifically, he developed the original proposal and plan for Apache Tika (a content detection and analysis toolkit) in collaboration with Jérôme Charron to extract data in the Panama Papers, exposing how wealthy individuals exploited offshore tax regimes.(24:58) Chris discussed his process of writing “Tika In Action,” which he co-authored with Jukka Zitting in 2011.(27:01) Since 2007, Chris has been a professor in the Department of Computer Science at USC Viterbi School of Engineering. He went over the principles covered in his course titled “Software Architectures.”(29:49) Chris touched on the core concepts and practical exercises that students could gain from his course “Information Retrieval and Web Search Engines.”(32:10) Chris continued with his advanced course called “Content Detection and Analysis for Big Data” in recent years (check out this USC article).(36:31) Chris also served as the Director of the USC’s Information Retrieval and Data Science group, whose mission is to research and develop new methodology and open source software to analyze, ingest, process, and manage Big Data and turn it into information.(41:07) Chris unpacked the evolution of his career at NASA JPL: Member of Technical Staff -> Senior Software Architect -> Principal Data Scientist -> Deputy Chief Technology and Innovation Officer -> Division Manager for the AI, Analytics, and Innovation team.(44:32) Chris dove deep into MEMEX — a JPL’s project that aims to develop software that advances online search capabilities to the deep web, the dark web, and nontraditional content.(48:03) Chris briefly touched on XDATA — a JPL’s research effort to develop new computational techniques and open-source software tools to process and analyze big data.(52:23) Chris described his work on the Object-Oriented Data Technology platform, an open-source data management system originally developed by NASA JPL and then donated to the Apache Software Foundation.(55:22) Chris shared the scientific challenges and engineering requirements associated with developing the next generation of reusable science data processing systems for NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory space mission and the Soil Moisture Active Passive earth science mission.(01:01:05) Chris talked about his work on NASA’s Machine Learning-based Analytics for Autonomous Rover Systems — which consists of two novel capabilities for future Mars rovers (Drive-By Science and Energy-Optimal Autonomous Navigation).(01:04:24) Chris quantified the Apache Software Foundation's impact on the software industry in the past decade and discussed trends in open-source software development.(01:07:15) Chris unpacked his 2013 Nature article called “A vision for data science” — in which he argued that four advancements are necessary to get the best out of big data: algorithm integration, development and stewardship, diverse data formats, and people power.(01:11:54) Chris revealed the challenges of writing the second edition of “Machine Learning with TensorFlow,” a technical book with Manning that teaches the foundational concepts of machine learning and the TensorFlow library's usage to build powerful models rapidly.(01:15:04) Chris mentioned the differences between working in academia and industry.(01:16:20) Chris described the tech and data community in the greater Los Angeles area.(01:18:30) Closing segment.His Contact InfoWikipediaNASA PageGoogle ScholarUSC PageTwitterLinkedInGitHubHis Recommended ResourcesDoug Cutting (Founder of Lucene and Hadoop)Hilary Mason (Ex Data Scientist at bit.ly and Cloudera)Jukka Zitting (Staff Software Engineer at Google)"The One Minute Manager" (by Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson)

In the second installment of Escape Velocity, Vice Dean Jones and Daniel Druhora speak with Dr. Wanda Austin and Dr. John Brooks Slaughter. Dr. Wanda Austin is the former President and Chief Executive of The Aerospace Corporation, the USC Interim President from 2018-2018, a USC Trustee and a member of the National Academy of Engineering. She is USC’s first Black and first female president. Dr. John Brooks Slaughter is the former Director of the National Science Foundation, President of Occidental College, Chancellor of the University of Maryland, and is currently a Member of the National Academy of Engineering. He holds a joint appointment at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and the Rossier School of Education. He is the first Black director of the NSF. Tune in for this conversation with these two legendary leaders.

Nitin Sharma is a seasoned VC in his third venture investing innings with FirstPrinciples, a portfolio of 40+ Seed to Pre Series A investments. From edtech to blockchain to D2C brands to cross-border US-India startups, Nitin has followed his wide-ranging curiosity in working with founders. He is also the founder of Incrypt Blockchain. Previously, Nitin has been a founding principal at Lightbox, one of India's leading consumer tech funds ($400M AUM). Earlier in his career, he learnt the ropes of venture investing from some of the best, while being at NEA in the US, and was also an early executive at EverFi, one of the world's largest edtech startups. Nitin serves on the advisory boards of AngelList India, the USC Viterbi School and TheBetterIndia, and advises NITI Aayog on frontier tech policy.

In this episode, Nitin Sharma, Angel Investor & Founder @First Principles, joins our host Digjay, to share his investment experience with early-to-growth stage companies, his first principles approach to venture investing, why he is bullish on deep tech & his approach to evaluating startups in this space. Nitin has been an experienced VC and advisor to high growth technology ventures in India as well as the US, over the last 14 years. With First Principles, Nitin is currently an active angel investor in 30+ startups in various sectors, including blockchain and other deep tech. He is also the founder of Incrypt Blockchain, a community of blockchain developers in India. Previously, he has been a founding Principal at Lightbox, now a $400mm AUM fund in India and a US venture investor at New Enterprise Associates (NEA), a $20bn fund where he co-led NEA's first ed-tech investment. Nitin also serves on the India advisory boards of AngelList, EMVC, TheBetterIndia & USC Viterbi School of Engineering. You can reach out to him here on Linkedin / Twitter. ---- If you liked our episode, you can subscribe to our podcast on any of the major podcasting platforms like Spotify, Apple iTunes and Google Podcasts. Please leave us a review on Apple iTunes to help others discover this podcast. You can visit thevcpreneur.com and follow us on Twitter @thevcpreneur_ & Instagram @thevcpreneur for more episodes and interesting insights on the startup ecosystem. You can also follow our host Digjay on Linkedin & Twitter ---- Show notes – 1. (00:59) Nitin's background & experience with NEA, Lightbox and now as an angel investor 2. (06:40) Applying a first principles approach to early-stage investing 3. (09:10) Thesis & opportunities at First Principles 4. (13:20) Benefits of decentralization & backing businesses that are building from India for the world 5. (15:35) Why should investors be bullish on deep tech technologies like Blockchain, AI & IoT? 6. (18:10) Unpacking blockchain as the internet of value; building a blockchain community 7. (23:05) Separating noise from the signal when investing in deep tech companies 8. (28:20) Angel investing 101; Meeting founder expectations and adding value beyond capital? 9. (32:50) Rapid fire and closing remarks

Episode 3 "The Black Engineering Student Experience" by USC Viterbi School of Engineering

Where is the limit in the use of technology to solve societal problems? How can Social Work utilize AI to address social injustice? To answer these questions and more we welcome Dr. Eric Rice to the show.    Eric is an associate professor and the founding co-director of the USC Center for Artificial Intelligence in Society, a joint venture of the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work and the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. Rice received a BA from the University of Chicago, and an MA and PhD in Sociology from Stanford University. Eric's research focuses on community outreach, network science, and the use of social networking technology by high-risk youth.   Full show notes for this episode can be found at Radicalai.org.    If you enjoy this episode please make sure to subscribe, submit a rating and review, and connect with us on twitter at twitter.com/radicalaipod  

Your online reputation is accumulative, most likely permanent, and a reflection on you as a trusted healthcare provider. Todd Eury, founder of the Pharmacy Podcast Network, talks with Sarah Mojarad from USC Viterbi School of Engineering to discuss the sensitivity surrounding a healthcare professional's online reputation.  Sarah Mojarad is a lecturer at the University of Southern California (USC) with joint faculty appointments in Viterbi School of Engineering and Keck School of Medicine. She received her BA in Psychology from Boston University and MS in Corporate and Organization Communication from Northeastern University. Her areas of expertise are in social media, misinformation, science communication, and online professionalism. Prior to joining USC, Prof. Mojarad was at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) where she co-created and taught the course Social Media for Scientists with Dr. Mark E. Davis. The class is believed to be the first full-length course that educates STEM students on the issues and opportunities of using social media for professional communication. She continues to teach an updated version of the class, Social Media for Scientists and Engineers (engr410), in Viterbi School of Engineering. At Keck School of Medicine, Prof. Mojarad teaches specialized communication and social media workshops to medical and physician-scientist students. Prof. Mojarad has given keynote lectures, seminars, and panel presentations at scientific meetings and universities around the world. She has presented her work to the National Science Foundation’s National Science Board, National Institutes of Health, and US Department of State. Her communication workshops have been funded by the Department of Energy and National Institutes of Health. Preface audio, #MedBikini Trending! Should Doctors Do This?? from GetYourLifeTogether Podcast https://youtu.be/9xY78DX3fQ0  @NuggetInTheAM @AndrewKozakTV NuggetPodcast@gmail.com 

Listen in on the conversation with experts from USC Dornsife, USC Viterbi and the California Science Center about the NASA Mars 2020 Perseverance rover launch. Kenneth Phillips is Curator for Aerospace Science at the California Science Center and an adjunct professor of the practice of physics and astronomy at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. He’s an expert in aeronautics, space exploration and science education. Anita Sengupta is an associate professor of astronautics at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and a former engineer at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She’s an expert in spacecraft design for interplanetary exploration and was responsible for the supersonic parachute system of the Curiosity rover that landed on Mars in 2012. Ken Nealson is an emeritus professor of Earth science at the Dornsife College. He is an expert in astrobiology, microbial life in extreme environments and the evolution of life in the universe. He led the astrobiology program at JPL, started the geobiology program at USC and is a member of the science team for the 2020 Mars mission. Garrett Reisman is a professor of astronautical engineering at the Viterbi School of Engineering at USC. He was an astronaut for NASA and conducted missions aboard the Space Shuttles Endeavor, Discovery and Atlantis as well as the International Space Station. He was also director of space operations for SpaceX and remains a senior advisor to the company.

Mehmet Berke Gür Kimdir? Lisans eğitimini 1999 yılında Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi Makina Mühendisliği bölümünde tamamladı. Lisans eğitimini tamamladıktan sonra 2000-2002 yılları arasında eş-zamanlı olarak iş hayatına atıldı ve Boğaziçi Üniversitesi'nde işletme yüksek lisans (MBA) eğitimi aldı. Ardından mühendislik eğitimine devam etmek için Amerika'ya taşındı ve burada University of Southern California'da Havacılık ve Makina Mühendisliği Bölümünde dinamik sistemler ve kontrol alanında yüksek lisans eğitimini tamamladı. Bu yüksek lisans eğitimi sırasında USC Viterbi School of Engineering'de öğretim görevlisi olarak çalıştı. Yüksek lisans eğitiminden sonra akademik kariyerine University of Massachusetts'de devam etti, burada su altı akustiği üzerine doktora derecesini aldı. Doktora eğitimi sırasında University of Florida ve University of Massachusetts'de araştırma görevlisi olarak çalıştı. Doktorasını tamamladıktan sonra Türkiye'ye dönmeye karar veren Doç. Dr. Berke Gür, yaklaşık 12 yıldır Bahçeşehir Üniversitesi Mekatronik Mühendisliği Bölümünde öğretim üyesi olarak görev yapmaktadır. Ayrıca Bahçeşehir Üniversitesi'ndeki görevi sırasında Stanford Üniversitesi'nde misafir araştırmacı olarak araştırmalarda bulundu ve BAU-Stanford Robotik Laboratuvarını kurdu. Halen bu laboratuvarın direktörlüğü görevine devam etmektedir. Son 1,5 yıldır da BAU'da Mekatronik Mühendisliği Bölüm Başkanı olarak görev yapıyor.

As the pandemic has unfolded, social media has once again demonstrated how it can inform – or mislead – by encouraging the spread of literally deadly information. Center Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy moderate a discussion on the implications of misinformation from political, social and engineering perspectives – and how it could alter the course of social media. In partnership with the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences' Dornsife Dialogues series. The panelists include: Kristina Lerman, Research associate professor of computer science and principal scientist at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering Information Sciences Institute Jon-Patrick Allem, Assistant professor of research preventive medicine and director of the Social Media Analytics Lab at Keck School of Medicine of USC.

As the pandemic has unfolded, social media has once again demonstrated how it can inform – or mislead – by encouraging the spread of literally deadly information. Center Co-Directors Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy moderate a discussion on the implications of misinformation from political, social and engineering perspectives – and how it could alter the course of social media. In partnership with the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences' Dornsife Dialogues series. The panelists include: Kristina Lerman, Research associate professor of computer science and principal scientist at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering Information Sciences Institute Jon-Patrick Allem, Assistant professor of research preventive medicine and director of the Social Media Analytics Lab at Keck School of Medicine of USC.

Don't miss out on the next #womenintech podcast episode, get notified by signing up here http://womenintechshow.com. Be featured in the Women in Tech Community by creating your profile here http://womenintechvip.com/ Dr. Anita Sengupta “Space Exploration and Entrepreneurship” #womenintech Show is a WeAreTech.fm production. To support the Women in Tech podcast go to https://www.patreon.com/womenintech To be featured on the podcast go to http://womenintechshow.com/feature Host, Espree Devora https://twitter.com/espreedevora https://www.linkedin.com/in/espree Guest, Dr. Anita Sengupta, Rocket Scientist & Aerospace Engineer https://anitasengupta.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitasen/ Be featured in the Women in Tech Community by creating your profile here http://womenintechvip.com/ Listener Spotlight, Anna Kochetkova https://www.instagram.com/annakochetkova/ In LA? Here’s some awesome resources for you to become immersed in the LA Tech scene - For a calendar of all LA Startup events go to, http://WeAreLATech.com Get Podcast Listeners, http://getpodcastlisteners.com/ Resources Mentioned: hyperloop one, https://hyperloop-one.com Boeing, https://www.boeing.com/ NASA, https://www.nasa.gov/ USC Viterbi School of Engineering, https://viterbischool.usc.edu/ Airspace Experience Technologies (ASX), https://www.iflyasx.com/ JPL, https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/ Excel, https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365 Midnight at the Well of Souls, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/555184.Midnight_at_the_Well_of_Souls Credits: Produced and Hosted by Espree Devora, http://espreedevora.com Story produced, Edited and Mastered by Cory Jennings, https://www.coryjennings.com/ Short Title: Space Exploration and Entrepreneurship

Today we’re joined by three very talented ladies from Hercode: Nicky Campa, Avalon Barrie, and Heidi Pease. The three begin by telling us their backgrounds and what led to their involvement in the blockchain industry, each bringing unique qualities and experiences to the team. Hercode is an initiative within LA Blockchain Lab that focuses on women and diversity in the blockchain space. Over the past year, Hercode has worked with the USC Viterbi School of Engineering to provide courses to teachers in Afghanistan so that they will be equipped to educate young girls about blockchain technology and coding in Solidity. Another program launched by Hercode focuses on educating high school girls in Los Angeles about blockchain.  As difficult as the coronavirus pandemic has been, it has made the Hercode team realize the importance of online education, which is an area they are now focusing on closely. Nicky, Avalon, and Heidi speak to what can come from educating women worldwide on emerging technologies and their excitement to move forward with their vision. They also believe that the pandemic can allow people to recognize the incredible value of blockchain technology, especially as the need for verification and trust becomes that much more pronounced. Overall, Hercode believes strongly that where you live or your gender should not limit your access to education, and the team hopes to close the gender gap when it comes to participation in the current technological transformation. Topics covered: - What our three guests were doing before discovering crypto - Heidi's journey founding LA Blockchain Lab - Giving women all over the world the opportunity to learn about blockchain - The initiatives that Hercode is driving - Working with partner schools in the Los Angeles area - Closing the gender gap in the blockchain industry - Dealing with the global COVID-19 pandemic - Thinking more strategically to give a quality education to everyone - Problems in other countries that are not seen in the United States - Blockchain use cases envisioned by students in Afghanistan Links to Resources: LA Blockchain Lab Website: https://www.lablockchainlab.org/ LA Blockchain Lab on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lablockchainlab Hercode Website: https://www.lablockchainlab.org/hercode Hercode on Twitter: https://twitter.com/hercodeglobal Hercode on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hercodeglobal/

Homelessness is a hot button topic, but what exactly is it? USC faculty are at the forefront of pinpointing the underlying causes and unique social, emotional, and healthcare needs of people experiencing homelessness. Join us for a candid and engaging conversation with two social work experts, Benjamin Henwood and Eric Rice, of the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work.Professor Henwood is a national proponent of "Housing First," a model focusing on placing people in permanent supportive housing. He is also co-lead of the national Grand Challenge to End Homelessness. Professor Rice focuses on youth experiencing homelessness and works with colleagues in the USC Viterbi School of Engineering to merge social work science and artificial intelligence, utilizing technology to seek novel solutions to homelessness.Both professors teach students in the USC Master of Social Work (MSW) program and use real world examples and research to prepare students to make an impact in their communities.

Assistive robots can act as companions and coaches to young and old alike, from autistic children to stroke survivors. Eighteen-year-old Saliha, from Bangladesh, talks to Professor Maja Mataric, from the University of Southern California, about why she is convinced technology can be a force for good. #WorldWiseWeb Producer: Tamsin Barber. World Wise Web is a co-production between BBC World Service and BBC Rewind. bbc.co.uk/archive Music composed by Nick Thorburn Archive: Robot archive is from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering.

On October 5, 2018, USC held an exclusive screening of First Man, a biopic of USC alumnus Neil Armstrong (played by Ryan Gosling) narrating his history-making walk on the moon. This discussion was the opening portion of the event, which was hosted by the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and USC Visions and Voices. The distinguished panelists were USC Interim President, and former CEO of The Aerospace Corporation, Wanda Austin, USC Trustee, and former head of NASA, Charles Bolden, USC professor, and former astronaut, Garrett Reisman. The panel was moderated by USC alumna, and Hyperloop One senior vice president of systems engineering, Anita Sengupta, and introduction by Dean Yannis C. Yortsos of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering.

Since 1970, Earth Day has been on April 22 and focused on education and change. 48 years later, what has changed and what is the future? Kelly Sanders, Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at USC Viterbi School of Engineering and Travis Longcore, Assistant Professor of Architecture, Spatial Sciences and Biological Sciences USC School of Architecture and USC Dornsife debate the trends, difficulties, and solutions we're faced with sustainability.

Andrea Armani, professor from USC Viterbi School of Engineering and Jonathan Lasch, executive director of the Alfred E. Mann Institute for Biomedical Engineering at USC, discuss how technology is being used to transform healthcare and impact society. Topics discussed include biotechnology and the new USC Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience.

Adam and Vanessa sit down to chat with Jason Belvill of BodySpec about DXA scans and a whole lot more.  Jason combines a passion for athletics with singular expertise in engineering to help design and oversee BodySpec's mobile scanning trucks. Originally from Seattle, WA, Jason graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2008 and was the captain of the All-Armed Forces Soccer Team. Jason is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and also holds a Master's in Engineering Management from USC Viterbi School of Engineering. Along with Bryce, Jason co-founded and operated Nu Era Fitness, a fitness equipment retailer. In addition to soccer and CrossFit, Jason enjoys world travel, having visited over 20 countries. Check out BodySpec HERE Learn more about BEE - FEST 2018 Authentic Self Life Mastery Personal Paleo Lifestyle Coaching

Never miss another interview! Join Devin here: http://bit.ly/joindevin. Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2kxuKbG. Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher. ----------------- The University of Southern California has recently created the Center on Artificial Intelligence for Social Solutions or CAISS, specifically to develop uses of artificial intelligence--AI--for use cases of interest to social entrepreneurs. The Center is a collaboration between the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. Eric Rice, an Associate Professor from the School of Social Work, has been tapped to lead CAISS. The potential for AI to be an effective tool for entrepreneurs with no background in technology is confirmed by Rice himself. When asked about his LinkedIn profile URL, he acknowledged not only that he doesn't have one, but also said, "I'm a bit of a Luddite." ----------------- Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2kxuKbG. Need a corporate social responsibility speaker? Learn more about Devin Thorpe at http://corporatesocialresponsibilityspeaker.com.

Over the course of the past century there have been numerous attempts to merge the seaports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. All failed. Most recently the Los Angeles city council 2020 Commission report recommended merging the ports. What does it take for seaports to merge successfully and where has this happened? This presentation will examine the motivations behind and the conditions precedent to successful seaport mergers. Geraldine Knatz is Professor of the Practice of Policy and Engineering, a joint appointment between the University of Southern California Price School of Public Policy and the Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. She served as the Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles from 2006 to January 2014. She was the first woman to serve in this role and made a significant impact through the creation and implementation of the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan, an aggressive plan that reduced air emissions by combined port operations of over 70 percent over five years which is recognized around the world for its innovation and success. She was also the Managing Director of the Port of Long Beach where she also led a number of environmental initiatives, including the Green Port Policy and Truck Trip Reduction Program. She is past president of the American Association of Port Authorities and past president of the International Association of Ports and Harbors. She serves as Gov. Brown’s appointee on the Ocean Protection Council.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson discusses transparency, his commitment to risk-based strategy and the current state of the global terrorist threat at a talk hosted by the National Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events at USC. DHS is the third-largest department of the federal government with 240,000 staff members, a $60 billion budget and 22 components that include Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Transportation Security Administration, Coast Guard and Secret Service. CREATE, which is jointly housed within the USC Price School of Public Policy and the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, was established in 2004 as the nation's first DHS Center of Excellence. CREATE evaluates the risks, costs and consequences of terrorism, providing analytical tools and guidance for its partner agencies.

Jay is the Executive Chairman of Realty Mogul and sits on the Board of Directors. Jay was most recently the President of ooVoo. Prior, Samit was CEO of SocialVibe and has held global senior management positions at Universal, EMI, and Sony. A leading technology pioneer for over 25 years, Samit has sold companies to Fortune 500 firms and taken companies public in addition to creating multi-million dollar strategic partnerships with Best Buy, Coca Cola, Ford, General Motors, McDonald's, Microsoft and United Airlines. Samit's charity work ranges from the first Internet Charity Auction to Tsunami Aid (with NBC) and Concert for Hurricane Relief (with MTV).During President Clinton's administration, as Director of the National Education Technology Initiative, Samit was charged with getting the Internet into America's public schools by the White House. Samit is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of UCLA and an adjunct Professor at USC Viterbi School of Engineering.Renée Strauss is synonymous with weddings. She has guided brides from around the world achieve their personal best and fulfill their vision for their special wedding day. Internationally recognized, Renée styles brides, the bridal party, and the wedding itself. Having reached success in bridal, Renée finds personal fulfillment in consulting as the luxury bridal expert she most enjoys. Recently appointed Luxury Weddings Ambassador for LWH Hotels, a worldwide hotel chain with 3 local properties: Luxe Rodeo Drive Hotel, Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel and Luxe City City Center Hotel.From Keynote speaking, world-wide appearances and bringing awareness to businesses through her consulting and innovative ideas, Renée is sought out for her enthusiasm, comprehension and results. Her hit TV show Brides of Beverly Hills continues to entertain fans around the world.

Jay Samit is the Executive Chairman of Realty Mogul and sits on the Board of Directors. Jay was most recently the President of ooVoo. Prior, Samit was CEO of SocialVibe and has held global senior management positions at Universal, EMI, and Sony. A leading technology pioneer for over 25 years, Samit has sold companies to Fortune 500 firms and taken companies public in addition to creating multi-million dollar strategic partnerships with Best Buy, Coca Cola, Ford, General Motors, McDonald's, Microsoft and United Airlines. Samit has produced over 100 video games garnering Best of Show awards at Comdex, CES, E3 and Retailvision. At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Jay was presented the Leonardo Da Vinci Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his contributions to digital media.During President Clinton's administration, as Director of the National Education Technology Initiative, Samit was charged with getting the Internet into America's public schools by the White House. Samit is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of UCLA and an adjunct Professor at USC Viterbi School of Engineering.Keith Chambers has assisted more than five hundred goods and service providers in formulating their marketing approach, including Clorox, Del Monte, Campbell's, Coppertone, Arm &Hammer, Sparkletts, Hormel, Scotch-Brite, and Equal. He has helped brands as varied as Claritin and the Miss America Pageant develop and convey their product message to the consumer. The firm began as a successful package design studio for brands such as Coca Cola Foods, Van de Kamps, and Minute Maid.In 1988, when Sega approached him for assistance with their package design image for a new high-powered home video game platform. When told the company had yet to name their product, Keith saw an opportunity. His group created the brand Sega Genesis; by its second year, Sega Genesis was exceeding $500 million in sales.Considered unorthodox by many, The Chambers Group has brought originality to their marketing approach.Michael Gluck is the Founder and President of VGMarket, a market research firm specializing in entertainment, media, and technology. In 2007, at the age of 24, Michael started up VGMarket with $5,000 in savings and grew the company to $20,000,000 in revenue by the age of 30. By 2014, VGMarket had become a leading global market research provider, servicing Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 clients in the United States and internationally.Outside of the market research industry, Michael is the Co-Owner of Court Street Grocers. Opening with a 29 Zagat rating and widespread critical acclaim, the Brooklyn food and sandwich shop is among the highest reviewed restaurants in New York. Michael is also Co-Founder and General Manager of Critical Hit, a video game music tribute band, as well as an investor in video game and technology start-ups.

Video gaming, game development, virtual reality, America's Army. Dr. Michael Zyda's research interests include computer graphics; networked 3D virtual environments; agent-based simulation; modeling human and organizational behavior; and interactive games. Dr. Zyda served as the principal investigator and development director of the America's Army PC game funded by the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.

Video gaming, game development, virtual reality, America's Army. Dr. Michael Zyda's research interests include computer graphics; networked 3D virtual environments; agent-based simulation; modeling human and organizational behavior; and interactive games. Dr. Zyda served as the principal investigator and development director of the America's Army PC game funded by the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.