Latest news with #UCDavis
Hindustan Times
19 hours ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Pune scientist leads global team helping ALS patients regain voice
PUNE A Pune-based scientist is front and centre of a major milestone in neurotechnology – an implant-based brain-computer interface (BCI) that enables an individual with advanced amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to speak in real time with natural intonation, and even sing. Pune-based scientist is part of neurotech project team that enables individual with advanced amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to speak in real time with natural intonation, and even sing. (HT) Dr Maitreyee Wairagkar – a former student of Jnana Prabodhini (Nigdi) and Fergusson College who completed her Engineering Masters and Ph.D. from the United Kingdom and is now based at UC Davis as 'project scientist' to lead the project since the last three years – has set an example of what Indian girls can achieve provided they get a chance. Dr Wairagkar – working with her team of researchers at UC Davis's Neuroprosthetics Laboratory since the last three years – has led the project from conception to design to execution and developed this 'first-in-world' technology that demonstrates a brain-to-voice neuroprosthesis capable of synthesising speech with less than a 25-millisecond delay, virtually indistinguishable from natural vocal feedback. Dr Wairagkar is the first author on the study published in the scientific journal, 'Nature' on June 12, 2025. Drawing on Dr Wairagkar's expertise, her team has developed algorithms to extract and denoise neural features, train phoneme and pitch decoders, and craft a full end-to-end voice synthesis system. Dr Wairagkar and team have enabled the decoding of fine-grained paralinguistic cues, allowing the user to express not just words but also emotion and melody. The system uses 256 microscale electrodes implanted in the ventral precentral gyrus, which is the part of the brain crucial for speech production. In the course of the study, as the participant attempted to speak, neural signals were decoded in real time into phonemes and paralinguistic features like pitch and emphasis and subsequently transformed into audible speech through a vocoder and speaker system. Importantly, the participant was not only able to communicate new words but also ask questions, shift intonation, and sing simple melodies in a major leap towards expressive, spontaneous communication. About the achievement, Dr Wairagkar said, 'What makes this technology extraordinary is not just that it translates brain activity into speech, but that it does so with the flow and character of natural voice. That expressiveness is what makes real conversation possible, and human.' Dr Wairagkar's contributions allowed the participant to control tone and stress in real time; a feature absent in earlier BCIs that often relied on slow, word-by-word output. Senior researchers at UC Davis, including Dr Sergey Stavisky and neurosurgeon Dr David Brandman, emphasised the emotional and practical impact of the work. 'This is the first time we have been able to restore a participant's own voice in real time, allowing him not only to talk but to sound like himself,' said Dr Stavisky. Dr Brandman—who implanted the arrays under the BrainGate2 clinical trial—highlighted the emotional power of restoring not just speech, but the participant's own voice. Test listeners recognised nearly 60% of the words correctly when BCI-driven voice was used (compared to just 4% intelligibility in natural, dysarthric speech), underscoring dramatic improvements in communication clarity. The neuroprosthesis not only decodes speech at the phoneme level but also captures prosody—how a sentence is said—making it the closest attempt yet at recreating natural, flowing conversation from thought alone. This milestone represents a profound shift in assistive communication for people living with ALS, brainstem strokes, or other forms of locked-in syndrome. It also puts India at the centre of a transformative global scientific collaboration through Dr Wairagkar's involvement. The researchers note that although the findings are promising, brain-to-voice neuroprostheses remain in an early phase. A key limitation is that the research was performed with a single participant with ALS. It will be crucial to replicate these results with more participants, including those who have speech loss from other causes such as stroke. As further trials progress and the technology is refined, experts believe this innovation could redefine how neurotechnology restores voice and identity for millions who are otherwise left voiceless.
Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
Union presses California's key bird flu testing lab for records
The union representing workers at a UC Davis lab that tests and tracks bird flu infections in livestock has sued the university, demanding that records showing staffing levels and other information about the lab's operations be released to the public. Workers in the lab's small biotechnology department had raised concerns late last year about short staffing and potentially bungled testing procedures as cases of avian flu spread through millions of birds in turkey farms and chicken and egg-laying facilities, as well as through the state's cattle herds. The University Professional and Technical Employees-CWA Local 9119 said that it requested records in December 2024 in an attempt to understand whether the lab was able to properly service the state's agribusiness. But UC Davis has refused to release records, in violation of California's public records laws, the union alleged in a lawsuit recently filed in Alameda County Superior Court. UC Davis spokesperson Bill Kisliuk declined to comment on the lawsuit's specific allegations. 'The university looks forward to filing our response in court. We are grateful for the outstanding work of the CAHFS lab staff, including UPTE-represented workers, during the 2024 surge in avian flu testing,' Kisliuk said in an email. UC Davis has previously denied that workplace issues have left the lab ill-equipped to handle bird flu testing. Kisliuk had said the facility 'maintained the supervision, staffing and resources necessary to provide timely and vital health and safety information to those asking us to perform tests.' According to copies of email correspondence cited in the lawsuit, UC Davis in January denied the union's request for records regarding short staffing or testing errors, calling the request 'unduly burdensome.' It also denied its request for information about farms and other businesses that had samples tested at the lab, citing an exemption to protect from an 'invasion of personal privacy.' Workers at the lab had previously told The Times that they observed lapses in quality assurance procedures, as well as other mistakes in the testing process. Amy Fletcher, a UC Davis employee and president of the union's Davis chapter, said the records would provide a necessary window into how staffing levels could be hurting farms and other businesses that rely on the lab for testing. Fletcher said workers have become afraid to speak about problems at the lab, having been warned by management that the some information related to testing is confidential. The Davis lab is the only entity in the state with the authority to confirm bird flu cases. The union, known as UPTE, represents about 20,000 researchers and other technical workers across the University of California system's 10 campuses.
Los Angeles Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
As college graduates hit the job market, here are the lowest- and highest-paying majors
When Rui Ming Yu first applied to colleges five years ago, he considered studying history, art or design. But when the Stockton resident enrolled at UC Davis, he changed his mind — and opted for biology, a common premed major. Medical jobs pay well, he reasoned. But during his first year, after he thought over his lack of interest in certain required courses, such as chemistry, and the time and money he'd need to invest in years of schooling to become a doctor, Yu switched his focus again. 'For me, it was about finding something in college that I'd enjoy studying and looking at being able to make a good salary after graduation,' said Yu, who graduated Saturday with a major in mechanical engineering and a minor in electrical engineering and has landed a job at a San Francisco Bay Area medical device company that makes catheters. 'My parents sacrificed for me to come to America and for me to have this opportunity, so I have to make the right decisions for my future,' said Yu, who is the son of Chinese immigrants and the first in his family to attend college. As new graduates enter the job market and a fresh generation of students behind them prepares to start their college journeys, surveys have shown that employment and salary prospects, weighed against the high costs of higher education, are increasing concerns. Not every field of study is created equally when it comes to pay. Using U.S. census data, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York released a report this year calculating early and midcareer median wages for college graduates by major. Eight of the 10 majors with the highest median early-career incomes were in engineering. The two others were physics and computer science, which was the one with the highest early-career salary of $80,000. Midcareer wages followed some of the same patterns, but two other majors also popped into the top 10: finance and economics. Looking at the top 15 majors for midcareer wages, mathematics and international affairs also made the cut alongside information systems management. The lowest-paying major right out of school: foreign languages at $40,000, with education degrees not far behind. Half of the 10 worst-paying majors for people in the middle of their careers were focused on education, reflecting the low pay of teaching jobs in the U.S. The analysis counted 'early career' as graduates ages 22 to 27, and 'midcareer' as those 35 to 45. Data for the University of California, where Yu attended, are more promising. About 60,000 undergraduates graduate each year across campuses and more than two-thirds of them graduate with no debt. Among the 70% of graduates who stay on to work in California, median earnings within two years tend to be higher than overall national figures. In computer science, the median income is $101,600. In engineering, it's $84,000, compared with $70,000 to $80,000 nationally for different types of engineering degrees. To be sure, the cost of living and wages overall tend to also be higher in the state. 'More and more, students are considering the value of a postsecondary education,' said Michael Itzkowitz, the founder and president of HEA Group, a consulting company focused on college value that conducts research on how quickly students are able to recoup their educational costs. An October report from the Oakland-based College Futures Foundation and HEA Group found that the 'return on investment' of a college degree was also highest in computer science, engineering and healthcare. Nursing also ranked high, with graduates from two-year community college programs making more than $100,000 after five years. The study looked at 260,000 graduates who received federal financial aid and were enrolled across 2,695 undergraduate certificate, associate and bachelor's degree programs at 324 California colleges. 'We've seen an exponential rise in college tuition and fees over the past two decades that has caused folks to think of whether a postsecondary education is worth it,' Itzkowitz said. 'Ultimately, they need strong earnings to ensure it pays off.' Through scholarships and financial aid, Yu is graduating debt-free, though he agrees with the sentiment. 'For me, being able to get a job was a big deal,' said Yu, who said he was rejected or did not hear back from several jobs after he started applying in January. 'Even with the right major and internships, it's not easy.' Nationally, the unemployment rate for recent college graduates is 5.8%, compared with an overall rate of 4.2%, an unusually large gap. The rate for recent graduates is at its highest since 2021. 'Starting out in the workforce is already intimidating, and layering on economic instability can easily lead to feelings of stress and discouragement,' said Courtney Alev, a consumer financial advocate for Credit Karma. The group recently released the results of a survey conducted by the Harris Poll that found that a fifth of Gen Z members were worried about finding a job after graduation, while a quarter said they were losing hope after seemingly endless applications and interviews. Peter Leonido, who is graduating this month from UC San Diego with a double major in sociology and education sciences and a minor in community service, said he empathized with student concerns about entering a difficult job market with at times low pay. 'My peers all the time feel this frustration that just because you go to college and get a degree doesn't mean you'll get a job,' said Leonido, who grew up in the Westlake area. 'There is a lot of resentment of the narrative that getting an education will guarantee you a job out of college, which we know is very questionable.' His majors are among the lowest paying for early and midcareer professionals with college degrees. But that does not deter him. 'A college education is important despite the dialogue about its value,' said Leonido, who has been accepted into a two-year master's program in education at UCLA, where he will earn his teaching credential while working in the Los Angeles Unified School District. 'A college education teaches you to critically think. Education should be transferable, but without that ability to critically think you are missing a part of why it's so important,' said Leonido, who plans to teach English and ethnic studies. 'And it exposes you to diverse groups of people and different perspectives outside your bubble.'
CBS News
5 days ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Laying claim to the lake: UC Davis athletes will sport Tahoe-themed uniforms
DAVIS -- UC Davis recently unveiled its new "bold aqua" alternative athletics jerseys to be launched this fall, making a splash in the local sports world. The iconic outline of Lake Tahoe adorns the uniforms and gear to be worn by nine major UC Davis sports once or twice a season: football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball, men's and women's soccer, volleyball and gymnastics. UC Davis "It's definitely a fun thing our fans can get into, our student-athletes and coaches love it. Something different, to shake things up a little bit," said Danielle Shank, UC Davis' Associate Athletics Director for External Relations. It's all in good fun for UC Davis, now laying claim to the lake that's about 130 miles away from campus. It's a two-hour drive, it's not too far!" said Shank. This stemmed from a new Adidas brand deal and multi-year extension with BSN Sports, where, for the first time, the athletics department had funding to launch alternative jerseys for their sports teams. In dreaming up an idea, the department wanted something that would highlight their world-class academics and make a wave. Some college sports fans closer to Tahoe are playfully calling foul. The University of Nevada at Reno sits just 40 miles down the road from the lake. The sentiment across the state line is -- why didn't the Wolf Pack think of that? "I think from a fan perspective, there's FOMO, fear of missing out, on such a cool idea being taken by UC Davis rather than by Nevada," said Chris Murray, a columnist for Nevada Sports Net. Murray says there might be a little jealousy bubbling up as UC Davis claims Tahoe. "If you think of any official recruiting trip that Nevada hosts a prospect on, one of the must-have places they take them is Lake Tahoe. It's a big selling point if you're a University of Nevada coach," said Murray. The reaction that flooded social media after the uniform announcement was split. Some in support of the uniforms commented on the Instagram announcement, calling them "clean drip" and asking the school to "sell the merch." Others on an X post called the branding a "big stretch" and several pointed out Davis isn't exactly close to Tahoe. But if you ask UC Davis, Lake Tahoe is fair game. UC Davis "We do have a research center there. We want to draw more attention to that," said Shank. "UC Davis is a humble University. I don't think the nation knows how much great research we are doing and that we are a top 5 public institution for research." UC Davis is leaning into its year-round research on the lake through the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center, based in Tahoe City and Incline Village, which studies the lake and produces the annual Lake Tahoe clarity report, released Monday. It comes in good timing. There's a budding rivalry from Davis to Reno. "Athletics likes to be competitive and we are joining the Mountain West, so we will be playing Nevada Reno all the time. It's fun to stir up some of that," said Shank. In 2026, all of UC Davis' major sports except for football will join the University of Nevada in the Mountain West Conference. "These two schools will be in the same conference pretty soon. They're gonna be recruiting some of the same athletes in the Sacramento Valley, Bay Area, northern Nevada. There's gonna be competition there," said Murray. UC Davis says the partnership will extend beyond the kits on the field as student-athletes with science-based majors will get chances to visit the Tahoe facilities for on-site learning and team retreats. Merchandise sporting the new logo will be available for purchase at the Aggie Sideline Store online starting this summer.
San Francisco Chronicle
5 days ago
- Science
- San Francisco Chronicle
Lake Tahoe is getting murkier — and scientists don't know why
Lake Tahoe 's famously clear blue waters became noticeably murkier in 2024, ranking as the third least clear on record — and the worst in several years — according to a new report from UC Davis researchers who have monitored the lake for decades. The annual Lake Tahoe Clarity Report, released Monday by the university's Tahoe Environmental Research Center, found the lake's average clarity last year was 62.3 feet — nearly six feet shallower than in 2023. That level of clarity was surpassed in cloudiness only by 2021, when wildfire smoke blanketed the region, and 2017, a year marked by runoff-heavy storms. 'It's not, at this point, noticeably worse. But it's not getting better, and we need to find out why,' said Stephanie Hampton, director of the center and a professor at UC Davis, in a statement. Clarity is measured using a white Secchi disk, which researchers lower into the water to determine the depth at which it disappears. Since the late 1960s, when scientists began monitoring the lake, average clarity has declined by about 40 feet. In recent decades, government agencies and conservation groups have invested heavily in efforts to protect the lake's transparency — from restoring wetlands to improving stormwater systems. The report notes some success: more than 500,000 pounds of sediment are now prevented from reaching the lake each year. Still, summer clarity continues to deteriorate, and researchers suspect new, less understood factors may be driving the trend. 'It may be the lake is different than it was 20 years ago, when these policies and practices were implemented,' Hampson said. 'We need to investigate these particles again to find out what kind of particles they are. Are they still mostly sediment? Or are there more algae, wildfire ash or other particles? That may be key to understanding why water clarity is not improving.' One emerging theory is that microscopic plankton, too small to have been tracked in earlier studies, could be contributing to the persistent murkiness. As climate change ushers in longer, warmer summers, scientists warn that shifting conditions may be reshaping the lake's ecology. At the same time, they say that new development around the Tahoe Basin continues to stir debate about the region's ability to absorb growth without further degrading its signature waters. 'Science-driven policies have underpinned Lake Tahoe's protection for decades, and seeing lake clarity stabilize is an indicator that we are making progress,' said Julie Regan, executive director of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, in a statement. 'However, the lack of improvement is concerning, and we will continue to work closely with the science community to understand where to direct our management efforts next.'
