Issue #367: Tampa Riverwalk Festivities, USF Honors Scholars, and New Warnings on Sugar’s Brain Effects

5/2/2025

Author

Ted Grellner
02 May

Keep your finger on the Pulse!

GOOD MORNING

Dr Ted
USAF Retired


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In this issue of NewTampa | WesleyChapel
Local Pulse

Our Event Calendar

Local News

— Riverwalk Comes Alive for Tampa’s Biggest Weekend Bash

— USF Scholars Celebrated for Breakthrough Work in Psychology and Public Affairs

Medical News

— Processed Sugars Linked to Lasting Brain and Appetite Dysfunction

— Elon Musk: Robots Will Beat Top Surgeons in 5 Years

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Riverwalk Comes Alive for Tampa’s Biggest Weekend Bash

Tampa Riverfest returns May 2–3 with one of the city’s most vibrant, family-friendly events, stretching across the entire Tampa Riverwalk. Anchored at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, the weekend features a concert series, food festivals, and colorful evening spectacles.

Friday kicks off with Taste of the Riverwalk (5:30–9:30 p.m.), serving up local cuisine, beer trucks, and live music. On Saturday, TacoFest tempts foodies with diverse taco offerings. Both nights include a balloon glow at sunset.

Other highlights include a wiener dog derby, paddle invasion, yoga sessions, and a free water ski show on May 3 at Water Works Park. The fan-favorite Lantern Parade, also May 3, invites attendees to create glowing paper lanterns and march from Water Works Park to Curtis Hixon Park (8:30–10 p.m.).

Wristbands are required for food tents, and lantern kits will be available on-site. Visit Riverfest’s official site or Facebook for more info.

USF Scholars Celebrated for Breakthrough Work in Psychology and Public Affairs

Two standout faculty members from USF’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) have received Faculty Excellence Awards from the university’s Women in Leadership & Philanthropy (WLP) program, recognizing outstanding research achievements.

Dr. Diana Rancourt, a Tampa-based associate professor and Director of the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program, received a Campus-Based Faculty Award. Her interdisciplinary research focuses on interoceptive and sociocultural influences on youth weight-related behaviors, bridging clinical and developmental psychology.

Dr. Christa L. Remington, an Assistant Professor in the School of Public Affairs, earned the Junior Faculty Excellence Award. Her research centers on nonprofit and emergency response collaborations in post-disaster recovery, and she is also active as a nonprofit consultant and founder of a leadership program in Haiti.

The WLP program highlights faculty who drive community-centered, impactful scholarship, reinforcing USF's commitment to leadership, equity, and research excellence.

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*We are witnessing the start of a new era in technology with AI much like in the early 2000’s with personal computers:

Elon Musk: Robots Will Beat Top Surgeons in 5 Years

Elon Musk predicts that robots will outperform even elite surgeons within five years, highlighting the growing role of artificial intelligence in medical science. His company Neuralink, which implants brain-computer interfaces, already relies on a surgical robot for electrode insertion, citing the need for extreme speed and precision beyond human capability.

In a March livestream, Neuralink showcased a paralyzed patient playing chess using only his thoughts, demonstrating the device's potential. While the first patient experienced some issues—a portion of the implant’s threads retracted from the brain—later cases have shown improved results. Musk emphasized that the robotic system is crucial, noting that the implant's threads are too fine for human hands to place.

Sen. Mike Lee responded optimistically, calling the advancement a "win for humans." Meanwhile, Tesla continues developing humanoid robots capable of performing mundane or hazardous tasks, signaling a broader vision of robotic integration into daily life.

Read More: foxbusiness.com

—>Click HERE to learn how to use AI for more than just information gathering
Dr Ted

P.S. (Hint) This is an outstanding course to learn WHY and HOW to take advantage of AI’s tremendous capabilities. Like it or not, AI is here to stay.

Processed Sugars Linked to Lasting Brain and Appetite Dysfunction

A new review in the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism warns that high-fructose diets—especially from processed foods—disrupt brain function and appetite regulation. Unlike glucose, fructose metabolism bypasses feedback control, leading to excess fat production, altered gut microbiota, and neuroinflammation.

Fructose impairs hypothalamic regulation of appetite, activating orexigenic (hunger-promoting) signals while dampening satiety cues. It also bypasses leptin and insulin feedback, triggering overeating. The hippocampus, essential for learning and memory, is particularly vulnerable—animal studies show mitochondrial dysfunction, receptor impairment (GLP-1R, INSR), and neuroinflammation within just one week of high-fructose intake.

Processed sources like sugary drinks are most harmful due to rapid absorption. In contrast, whole fruits—with fiber and nutrients—exhibit a protective metabolic effect.

Particularly troubling is the increased vulnerability during adolescence, a critical period for brain development. The study calls for greater public health awareness and further human research on long-term cognitive effects.

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