Goto Lab Home Page URL .
My research interest has been focused on enzyme and protein engineering toward the generation of new protein-based biomaterials. To fully utilize unique protein functions, different strategies including genetic engineering, enzyme engineering, and organic synthesis should be combined and my research is actually directed to that way. Now I am interested in posttranslational, site-specific modification of functional proteins to design new nanobioarchitecture for specific functions. I am also interested in drug delivery system enabling oral and transdermal administration of pharmaceutical peptides and proteins. During the course of research, I have worked with many industrial companies.
On education, after completing my Ph.D, I experienced two Universities, University of Tokyo & MIT, and had two classes for undergraduate students at the former place. I spent one year at MIT as a visiting scientist and worked on the project related to protein drug delivery and protein chip technology. Now I am involved in many types of lectures and works in the university.
2013.10~2021.03Enzyme-DNA hybrids are unique and powerful bioconjugates for the ultrasensitive detection of target DNA/RNA. Here, we have developed novel enzyme-DNA/RNA hybrids that are potentially useful for a wide variety of biotechnological applications such as in situ hybridization and genomic southern blotting..
Design, creation and evaluation of supramolecular protein complexes.
2013.04~2019.03Enzyme-DNA hybrids are unique and powerful bioconjugates for the ultrasensitive detection of target DNA/RNA. Here, we have developed novel enzyme-DNA/RNA hybrids that are potentially useful for a wide variety of biotechnological applications such as in situ hybridization and genomic southern blotting..
2012.04~2018.03We have focused on the development of a novel lipid-based drug formulation toward oral delivery of pharmaceutical peptide and protein drugs..
2011.04~2016.03In the present study, we focused on the coupling of different enzymatic activities towards the monooxygenation of one substrate to create highly efficient E. coli whole cell biocatalysts that facilitates oxygenation of hydrocarbons under mild conditions..
2007.04~2013.03Enzyme-DNA hybrids are unique and powerful bioconjugates for the ultrasensitive detection of target DNA/RNA. Here, we have developed novel enzyme-DNA/RNA hybrids that are potentially useful for a wide variety of biotechnological applications such as in situ hybridization and genomic southern blotting. .
2006.04~2013.03Ionic liquids are unique solvents that realize high polarity and hydrophobicity simultaneously, and its potential as novel reaction media has been recently recognized. In the present study, a new bioprocess that facilitates bicatalytic reaction in ionic liquids will be developed..
2002.04~2012.03Site-specific modification of proteins is often required to effectively utilize a wide variety of protein function. Recently, I have developed a novel way to conjugate recombinant proteins by combining genetic and enzyme engineering. The present enzymatic-protein-engineering approach can overcome the limit of conventional technique and is applicable to create functional protein hybrids and protein arrays..
2005.04~2011.03In the present study, we focused on the coupling of different enzymatic activities towards the monooxygenation of one substrate to create highly efficient E. coli whole cell biocatalysts that facilitates oxygenation of hydrocarbons under mild conditions..
2003.04~2011.03We have focused on the development of a novel lipid-based drug formulation toward oral delivery of pharmaceutical peptide and protein drugs..
Springer, Chapter 17, p.373-383 (2015), 2016.01.
Neuromethods, Chapter 29, p.549-558 (2015), 2015.04.
Methods in Molecular Biology, Chapter 9, 2011.08.
1. Momoko Kitaoka, Rie Wakabayashi, Noriho Kamiya, Masahiro Goto, Solid-in-oil nanodispersions for transdermal drug delivery systems, Biotechnol. J., 11(11), 1375-1385 (2016) [Open Access], 2016.11.
2. LOPES GONCALVES GEISA APARECIDA, Noriho Kamiya, Biomolecular assembly strategies to develop potent artificial cellulosomes, Sustainable Chemical Processes, 2:19 (2014), 2014.10.
3. New technoogies for oriented protein immobilization.
4. Cross-linking chemistry and biotechnology by transglutaminase.
1. Patma, Kosuke Minamihata, T. Tatsuke, Jae Man Lee, Takahiro Kusakabe, Noriho Kamiya, Expression and Activation of Horseradish Peroxidase–Protein A/G Fusion Protein in Silkworm Larvae for Diagnostic Purposes, Biotechnology Journal, 10.1002/biot.201700624, 13, 1700624, 2018.06.
A case study with phycocyanin, European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpb.2018.01.020, 127, 44-50, 2018.06, Phycocyanin (PC), a water-soluble protein-chromophore complex composed of hexameric (αβ)6 subunits, has important biological functions in blue-green algae as well as pharmacological activities in biomedicine. We have previously developed a solid-in-oil (S/O) nanodispersion method to deliver biomacromolecules through the skin, although the transcutaneous mechanism has not yet been fully elucidated. To study the mechanism of transcutaneous protein delivery, we therefore enabled S/O nanodispersion by coating PC with hydrophobic surfactants and evaluated how the proteinaceous macromolecules formulated in an oil phase might permeate the skin. The extent of S/O nanodispersion of PC was dependent on the type of surfactant, suggesting that the selection of a suitable surfactant is crucial for encapsulating a large protein having a subunit structure. By measuring the intrinsic fluorescence of PC, we found that S/O nanodispersion facilitated the accumulation of PC in the stratum corneum (SC) of Yucatan micropig skin. Furthermore, after crossing the SC layer, the fluorescent recovery of PC was evident, indicating the release of the biologically active form of PC from the SC into the deeper skin layer..
3. Muhamad Alif Razi, Rie Wakabayashi, Yoshiro Tahara, Masahiro Goto, Noriho Kamiya, Genipin-stabilized caseinatehitosan nanoparticles for enhanced stability and anti-cancer activity of curcumin, Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2018.01.041, 164, 308-315, 2018.04, Nanoparticles formed by the assembly of protein and polysaccharides are of great interest for the delivery of hydrophobic molecules. Herein, the formation of genipin-crosslinked nanoparticles from caseinate (CS) and chitosan (CH) is reported for the delivery of curcumin, a polyphenolic compound from turmeric, to cells. Genipin-crosslinked CS-CH nanoparticles (G-CCNPs) having a diameter of ∼250 nm and a low polydispersity index showed excellent stability over a wide pH range, as indicated by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopic measurements. Cellular uptake of curcumin loaded into G-CCNPs by HeLa cells was improved, as measured by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and fluorescence-activated cell-sorting analysis. Cell proliferation assays indicated that G-CCNPs were nontoxic and that curcumin's anticancer activity in vitro was also improved by G-CCNPs. Stability of curcumin at neutral pH was enhanced by G-CCNPs. CLSM study revealed that G-CCNPs were poorly internalized by HeLa cells, possibly because of strong cell membrane interactions and a negative zeta potential. Overall, our results suggested that the enhanced curcumin cytotoxicity might be associated with the enhanced stability of curcumin by G-CCNPs and free curcumin released from G-CCNPs into the cell. These biocompatible NPs might be suitable carriers for enhancing curcumin's therapeutic potential..
4. Mari Takahara, Rie Wakabayashi, Kosuke Minamihata, Masahiro Goto, Noriho Kamiya, Primary Amine-Clustered DNA Aptamer for DNA-Protein Conjugation Catalyzed by Microbial Transglutaminase, Bioconjugate Chemistry, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.7b00594, 28, 12, 2954-2961, 2017.12, DNA-protein conjugates are promising biomolecules for use in areas ranging from therapeutics to analysis because of the dual functionalities of DNA and protein. Conjugation requires site-specific and efficient covalent bond formation without impairing the activity of both biomolecules. Herein, we have focused on the use of a microbial transglutaminase (MTG) that catalyzes the cross-linking reaction between a glutamine residue and a primary amine. In a model bioconjugation, a highly MTG-reactive Gln (Q)-donor peptide (FYPLQMRG, FQ) was fused to enhanced green fluorescent protein (FQ-EGFP) and a primary amine-clustered DNA aptamer was enzymatically synthesized as a novel acyl-acceptor substrate of MTG, whose combination leads to efficient and convenient preparation of DNA-protein conjugates with high purity. Dual functionality of the obtained DNA-EGFP conjugate was evaluated by discrimination of cancer cells via c-Met receptor recognition ability of the DNA aptamer. The DNA aptamer-EGFP conjugate only showed fluorescence toward cells with c-Met overexpression, indicating the retention of the biochemical properties of the DNA and EGFP in the conjugated form..
5. Lili Jia, Kosuke Minamihata, Hirofumi Ichinose, Kouhei Tsumoto, Noriho Kamiya, Polymeric SpyCatcher Scaffold Enables Bioconjugation in a Ratio-Controllable Manner, Biotechnology Journal, https://doi.org/10.1002/biot.201700195, 12, 12, 2017.12, Conjugating enzymes into a large protein assembly often results in an enhancement of overall catalytic activity, especially when different types of enzymes that work cooperatively are assembled together. However, exploring the proper method to achieve protein assemblies with high stability and also to avoid loss of the function of each component for efficient enzyme clustering is remained challenging. Assembling proteins onto synthetic scaffolds through varied post-translational modification methods is particularly favored since the proteins can be site-specifically conjugated together with less activity loss. Here, a SpyCatcher polymer is prepared through catalytic reaction of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and serves as a polymeric proteinaceous scaffold for construction of protein assemblies. Taking advantage of the favorable SpyCatcher–SpyTag interaction, SpyTagged proteins can be easily assembled onto the polymeric SpyCatcher scaffold with controllable binding ratio and site specificity. Firstly, the feasibility of construction of ratio-controllable binary artificial hemicellulosomes by assembling endoxylanase and arabinofuranosidase is explored. This construct achieves higher sugar conversion than that of the free enzymes when the proportion of arabinofuranosidase is high, because the close spatial proximity of the enzymes allows them to work in a synergistic manner. Another application for biosensing is developed by conjugating SpyTagged Nanoluc and protein G onto SpyCatcher polymer. Due to the protein clustering effect, an amplified luminescent intensity is achieved by the resulting conjugates than chimera protein of Nanoluc and protein G in ovalbumin detection in ELISA..
6. Mori, Yutaro, Budinova, Geisa Aparecida Lopes Goncalves, Nakazawa, Hikaru, Umetsu, Mitsuo, Kamiya, Noriho, One-dimensional assembly of functional proteins: toward the design of an artificial cellulosome, Mol. Syst. Des. Eng., 10.1039/C6ME90005D, 1, 1, 66-73, 2016.04, In biological systems, proteins can form well-organized, higher-order structures with unique functions that would be difficult to achieve with a single protein. These proteinaceous supramolecular structures form by self-assembly, and the spatial arrangement of the protein building blocks in them is very important. In the present study, an artificial system was developed using recombinant proteins as building blocks, which were assembled in a one-dimensional manner. The assembly of these building blocks was based on the avidin-biotin interaction. A tetrameric biotin ligand unit was designed so that the 1:4 stoichiometry of the avidin-biotin interaction was altered to a 1:2 directional interaction between the streptavidin and tetrabiotinylated protein units. In a proof-of-concept study, site-specifically tetrabiotin-labeled endoglucanase and cellulose-binding module units were prepared, then these components were self-assembled by mixing with streptavidin to mimic a natural cellulosome. The formation of one-dimensional assemblies of the protein units depended on the stoichiometry of the avidin-biotin interaction sites in the system. Interestingly, the saccharification efficiency improved when the component ratio of protein units in the assemblies was changed..
7. Moriyama, Kousuke, Naito, Shono, Rie Wakabayashi, Masahiro Goto, Noriho Kamiya, Enzymatically prepared redox-responsive hydrogels as potent matrices for hepatocellular carcinoma cell spheroid formation, BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL, 10.1002/biot.201600087, 11, 11, 1452-1460, 2016.11.
8. Takahara, Mari, Budinova, Geisa Aparecida Lopes Goncalves, Nakazawa, Hikaru, Mori, Yutaro, Umetsu, Mitsuo, Kamiya, Noriho, Salt-Switchable Artificial Cellulase Regulated by a DNA Aptamer, BIOMACROMOLECULES, 10.1021/acs.biomac.6b01141, 17, 10, 3356-3362, 2016.10.
9. Yukiho HOSOMOMI, Teppei NIIDE, Rie Wakabayashi, Masahiro Goto, Noriho Kamiya, Biocatalytic Formation of Gold Nanoparticles Decorated with Functional Proteins inside Recombinant Escherichia coli Cells, ANALYTICAL SCIENCES, 32, 3, 295-300, Cover page illustration, 2016.03.
10. Hayashi, Kounosuke, JAE MAN LEE, Tomozoe, Yusuke, takahiro kusakabe, 神谷 典穂, Heme precursor injection is effective for Arthromyces ramosus peroxidase fusion protein production by a silkworm expression system, JOURNAL OF BIOSCIENCE AND BIOENGINEERING, 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2015.02.013, 120, 4, 384-386, 2015.10.
11. Lili Jia, LOPES GONCALVES GEISA APARECIDA, Yusaku Takasugi, Yutaro Mori, Shuhei Noda, Tsutomu Tanaka, Hirofumi Ichinose, 神谷 典穂, Effect of pretreatment methods on the synergism of cellulase and xylanase during the hydrolysis of bagasse, BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY, 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.02.041, 185, 158-164, 2015.06.
12. Kousuke Moriyama, Rie Wakabayashi, Masahiro Goto, 神谷 典穂, Enzyme-mediated preparation of hydrogels composed of poly(ethylene glycol) and gelatin as cell culture platforms, RSC ADVANCES, 10.1039/c4ra12334d, 5, 4, 3070-3073, 2015.03.
13. Kosuke Minamihata, Masahiro Goto, 神谷 典穂, Site-specific conjugation of an antibody-binding protein catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase creates a multivalent protein conjugate with high affinity to IgG, BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL, 10.1002/biot.201400512, 10, 1, 222-226, 2015.01.
14. Kousuke Moriyama, Rie Wakabayashi, Masahiro Goto, 神谷 典穂, Characterization of Enzymatically Gellable, Phenolated Linear Poly(Ethylene Glycol) with Different Molecular Weights for Encapsulating Living Cells, BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL, 93, 25-30, 2015.01.
15. Kousuke Moriyama, Kosuke Minamihata, Rie Wakabayashi, Masahiro Goto, 神谷 典穂, Enzymatic preparation of a redox-responsive hydrogel for encapsulating and releasing living cells, CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS, 10.1039/c3cc49766f, 50, 44, 5895-5898, 2014.08, Horseradish peroxidase-mediated oxidative cross-linking of a thiolated poly(ethylene glycol) is promoted in the absence of exogenous hydrogen peroxide, by adding a small amount of phenolic compound under physiological conditions. The prepared hydrogel can encapsulate and release living mammalian cells..
16. Teppei Niide, Masahiro Goto, 神谷 典穂, Enzymatic self-sacrificial display of an active protein on gold nanoparticles, RSC ADVANCES, 10.1039/c3ra46384b, 4, 12, 5995-5998, 2014.04.
17. K. Minamihata, M. Goto, N. Kamiya, Protein heteroconjugation by the peroxidase-catalyzed tyrosine coupling reaction, Bioconjugate Chem., 22, 2332-2338, 2011.12.
18. H. Abe, M. Goto, N. Kamiya, Protein lipidation catalyzed by microbial transglutaminase, Chem. Eur. J., 17, 14004-14008, 2011.12.
19. Y. Mori, K. Minamihata, H. Abe, M. Goto, N. Kamiya, Protein assemblies by site-specific avidin-biotin interactions, Org. Biomol. Chem., 9, 5641-5644, 2011.05.
20. Y. Mori, M. Goto, N. Kamiya, Transglutaminase-mediated internal protein labeling with a designed peptide loop, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 410, 829-833, 2011.05.
21. T. Niide, M. Goto, N. Kamiya, Biocatalytic synthesis of gold nanoparticles with cofactor regeneration in recombinant Escherichia coli cells, Chem. Commun., 47, 7350-7352, 2011.05.
22. K. Moriyama, K. Sung, M. Goto, N. Kamiya, Immobilization of alkaline phosphatase on magnetic particles by site-specific and covalent cross-linking catalyzed by microbial transglutaminase, J. Biosci. Bioeng., 111, 650-653, 2011.04.
23. K. Minamihata, M. Goto, N. Kamiya, Site-specific protein cross-linking by peroxidase-catalyzed activation of a tyrosine-containing peptide tag, Bioconjugate Chem., 22, 74-81, 2011.04.
25. N. Kamiya,* H. Abe, M. Goto, Y. Tsuji, H. Jikuya, Fluorescent substrates for covalent protein labeling catalyzed by microbial transglutaminase, Org. Biomol. Chem., 7, 3407-3412, 2009.08.
26. N. Kamiya,* Y. Shiotari, M. Tokunaga, H. Matsunaga, H. Yamanouchi, K. Nakano, M. Goto, Stimuli-responsive nanoparticles composed of naturally occurring amphiphilic proteins, Chem. Commun., 5287-5289, 2009.08.
27. K. Minamihata, N. Kamiya,* S. Kiyoyama, H. Sakuraba, T. Ohshima, M. Goto, Development of a novel immobilization method for enzymes from hyperthermophiles, Biotechnol. Lett., 31, 1037-1041, 2009.07.
28. T. Mouri, T. Shimizu, N. Kamiya,* H. Ichinose, M. Goto*, Design of a cytochrome P450BM3 reaction system linked by two-step cofactor regeneration catalyzed by a soluble transhydrogenase and glycerol dehydrogenase, Biotechnol. Prog., 25, 1372-1378, 2009.10.
29. N. Kamiya, S. Doi, Y. Tanaka, H. Ichinose, M. Goto, Functional immobilization of recombinant alkaline phosphatases bearing a glutamyl donor substrate peptide of microbial transglutaminase, J. Biosci. Bioeng., 104, 195-199, 2007.09.
30. Y. Tanaka, Y. Tsuruda, M. Nishi, N. Kamiya, M. Goto, Exploring enzymatic catalysis at a solid surface: a case study with transglutaminase-mediated protein immobilization, Org. Biomol. Chem., 5, 1764-1770, 2007.05.
31. J. Tominaga, N. Kamiya, M. Goto, An enzyme-labeled protein polymer bearing pendant haptens, Bioconjugate Chem., 18, 860-865, 2007.03.
32. J. Tominaga, Y. Kemori, Y. Tanaka, T. Maruyama, N. Kamiya, M. Goto, An enzymatic method for site-specific labeling of recombinant proteins with oligonucleotides, Chem. Commun., 401-403, 2007.01.
33. T.Mouri, J.Michizoe, H.Ichinose, N.Kamiya, M.Goto, A recombinant Escherichia coli whole cell biocatalyst harboring a cytochrome P450cam monooxygenase system coupled with enzymatic cofactor regeneration, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol., vol.72, 514-520 (2006), 2006.04.
34. T.Mouri, N.Kamiya, M.Goto, Increasing the catalytic performance of a whole cell biocatalyst harboring a cytochrome P450cam system by stabilization of an electron transfer component, Biotechnol. Lett., vol.28, 1509-1513 (2006), 2006.05.
35. H. Piao, N. Kamiya, J. Watanabe, H. Yokoyama, A. Hirata, T. Fujii, I. Shimizu, S. Ito, M. Goto, Oral delivery of diclofenac sodium using a novel solid-in-oil suspension, Int. J. Pharm., vol.313, 159-162 (2006) , 2006.11.
36. K. Nakashima, T. Maruyama, N. Kamiya, M. Goto, Homogeneous Enzymatic Reaction in Ionic Liquids with Poly(ethylene glycol)-Modified Subtilisin, Org. Biomol. Chem., vol.4, 3462-3467 (2006), 2006.10.
37. K. Nakashima, T. Maruyama, N. Kamiya, M. Goto, Activation of lipase in ionic liquids by modification with comb-shaped poly(ethylene glycol), Sci. Technol. Adv. Mater., vol.7, 692-698 (2006), 2007.01.
38. J. Tominaga, N. Kamiya, S. Doi, H. Ichinose, T. Maruyama, M. Goto, Design of a specific peptide tag that affords covalent and site-specific enzyme immobilization catalyzed by microbial transglutaminase, Biomacromolecules, 10.1021/bm050193o, 6, 4, 2299-2304, vol.6, 2299 -2304 (2005), 2005.01.
39. N.Kamiya, S.Doi, J.Tominaga, H.Ichinose, M.Goto, Transglutaminase-mediated protein immobilization to casein nanolayers created on a plastic surface, Biomacromolecules, 10.1021/bm0494895, 6, 1, 35-38, 6, 35-38 (2005), 2005.01.
40. T.Tanaka, N. Kamiya, T.Nagamune, N-terminal glycine-specific protein conjugation catalyzed by microbial transglutaminase, FEBS Letter, 10.1016/j.febslet.2005.02.064, 579, 10, 2092-2096, vol.579, 2092-2096 (2005), 2005.01.
1. Noriho Kamiya, Biocatalyst Engineering toward Biomedical Applications, ACB (Asian Congress on Biotechnology) 2017, 2017.07.
2. Noriho Kamiya, Enzyme-mediated Design of Functional Bioconjugates and Biomaterials, 2017 BEST Conference, 2017.06.
3. Noriho Kamiya, Mari Takahara, Rie Wakabayashi, Masahiro Goto, Design of novel biocatalysts by enzymatic biomolecular conjugation, The 9th AFOB Regional Symposium (ARS 2017), 2017.02.
4. 神谷 典穂, 南畑 孝介, Enzymatic Conjugation Strategy for the Design of Artificial Biomolecular Assemblies, 2016 AIChE Annual Meeting, 2016.11.
5. 神谷 典穂, Exploring biological strategies for sustainable utilization of lignocellulosic biomass, The e-ASIA Joint Research Program (e-ASIA JRP) Project Workshop, 2016.09.
6. 神谷 典穂, One-dimensional assembly of functional proteins by avidin-biotin interaction, Asian Congress on Biotechnology (ACB) 2015, 2015.11.
7. 神谷 典穂, Design of biomolecular assemblies by enzymatic protein manipulation, NANO KOREA 2015, 2015.07.
8. 神谷 典穂, Molecular design of biocatalytic assemblies for sustainable biotechnological applications, ARS 2015, 2015.05.
9. 神谷 典穂, Potential use of oxidoreductases for the fabrication of biomaterials, Active Enzyme Molecule 2014, 2014.12.
10. 神谷 典穂, Enzyme as a Catalytic Tool for Fabrication of Biomaterials, The 13th CJK Symposium on Enzyme Engineering, 2014.11.
11. 神谷 典穂, Self-sacrificial display of an active protein on gold nanoparticles, YABEC 2014, 2014.11.
12. 神谷 典穂, ENZYMATIC APPROACHES FOR ACCELERATING CELLULOSIC BIOMASS HYDROLYSIS, 16th International Biotechnology Symposium and Exhibition - IBS 2014, 2014.09.
13. 神谷 典穂, Enzyme as a catalytic tool for designing new bioconjugates, 2014 BEST Conference, 2014.06, Proteins exhibit multiple roles in living systems. In particular, enzymes facilitate metabolic pathways by catalyzing the different types of chemical reactions to sustain our life. A variety of enzyme functions have been exploited in both biochemical studies and biotechnological applications, however, there has still been a room for applying biocatalysis for the design and creation of artificial biomaterials.
In natural biological systems, proteins often form well-organized higher-order structures that associate unique functions, which cannot be accessed by a single protein unit alone. Interestingly, enzymatic post-translational modification of protein building blocks plays an important role in the formation of multi-subunit macromolecular structures.
Inspired by nature's strategy, we are interested in configuring biocatalysis for creating new functional biomaterials. Herein, I'll introduce our strategies which will be exemplified by three different types of enzymes (microbial trasnglutaminase, horseradish peroxidase, and glycerol dehydrogenase) to create (nano)biomaterials with distinct functions in line with their possible applications..
14. 神谷 典穂, Biomolecular Assembly by Enzymatic Conjugation and Scaffolding, 2013 KSBB Spring Meeting and International Symposium, 2014.04.
15. 神谷 典穂, Protein assembly design by enzymatic conjugation and scaffolding, 化学工学会第79年会(国際セッション), 2014.03.
16. 神谷 典穂, Assembling enzymes on a DNA scaffold for Biotechnological Applications, Asian Congress on Biotechnology (ACB-2013), 2013.12.
17. 神谷 典穂, Substrate engineering for enzymatic site-specific and covalent modification of functional proteins, Enzyme Engineering XXII: Emerging Topics in Enzyme Engineering, 2013.09.
18. 神谷 典穂, Protein Supramolecular Complex Formation by Site-specific Protein Interactions and Scaffolding, IGER International Symposium on Cell Surface Structures and Functions, 2013.09, Proteins are biomacromolecules exhibiting multiple roles in living systems. A variety of protein functions have proven to be valuable in both biochemical studies and biotechnological applications. In natural biological systems, proteins often form well-organized higher-order structures that associate unique functions, which cannot be accessed by a sole protein unit. In the formation of multi-subunit protein polymers such as cell-surface pili in gram-positive bacteria, self-assembly of protein building blocks plays an important role, and interestingly, post-translational modification also facilitates the growth and stabilization of proteinaceous polymeric structures by introducing covalent bonds at specific sites of protein subunits.
Toward designer protein supramolecular complexes (PSCs), ordered protein assemblies have been designed by either site-specific ligand-receptor interaction or site-specific protein labeling onto a scaffold molecule based on a transglutaminase-catalyzed post-translational, site-specific protein modification technique with artificial substrates. For the former, strong and specific molecular interaction between a natural receptor protein, streptavidin (SA), and its small molecular ligand, biotin, was selected. By using a dimeric Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase (AP) as a symmetric protein building block, we evaluated how the avidin-biotin interaction sites between protein units affect the formation of PSCs composed of AP and SA. For the latter, we have selected nucleic acid as a polymeric scaffold, and created novel DNA- and RNA-(enzyme)n conjugate, a nucleic acid-enzyme hybrid with 1:n stoichiometry. Our challenge for cellulosomal design with a nucleic acid scaffold will be also presented. .
19. 神谷 典穂, Development of New Biomolecular Conjugation Techniques and Their Applications, YABEC 2013, 2013.08.
20. 森 裕太郎, Rie Wakabayashi, Masahiro Goto, 神谷 典穂, Fabrication of higher-order protein supramolecular complexes, IGER International Symposium on Cell Surface Structures and Functions, 2013.09.
21. 神谷 典穂, Manipulating biomolecules through enzymatic post-translational protein modification, 2013 KMB's 40th Anniversary International Symposium "Recent Breakthroughs in Microbial Biotechnology: From Bench to Industry", 2013.07, Site-specific modification of proteins with a variety of organic molecules represents a valuable approach to obtain biologically active and homogeneous protein formulations. In particular, site-specific and covalent protein manipulation catalyzed by enzymes that function in post-translational modifications is practical because enzymatic transformations offer high substrate specificity under protein-friendly conditions. Recombinant proteins tagged with a short peptide, which can be post-translationally modified by a specific enzyme, have been successfully employed for this purpose.
Our group has focused on the utility of microbial transglutaminase (MTG) from Streptomyces mobaraensis in biotechnology. Transglutaminase is an enzyme that catalyzes covalent bond formation between the side chains of specific Gln and Lys residues of target peptides and proteins in post-translational modification process. By combining simple chemistry and MTG-catalyzed reaction, we have demonstrated site-specific protein conjugation with genetically introduced substrate peptide tags, site-specific protein immobilization to solid surfaces and site-specific protein labeling with new chemical entities. The basic concept has recently been extended to enzymatic conjugation of functional proteins with oligonucleotides, DNA and RNA. We are also interested in the use of oxidoreductases for enzymatic manipulation of biomolecules. Our recent efforts on biofabrication of a range of unique proteinaceous materials will be presented. .
22. 神谷 典穂, Momoko Kitaoka, Kounosuke Hayashi, A novel methodology for multiple enzyme labeling on nucleic acid scaffolds, 12th Japan-China-Korea Joint Symposium on Enzyme Engineering, 2012.05.
23. 神谷 典穂, Hiroki Abe, Masahiro Goto, Controlling protein localization by enzymatic protein lipidation, YABEC 2012, 2012.10.
24. 神谷 典穂, 中元亜耶, Uju, Masahiro Goto, Chiaki Ogino, Nobuhiro Ishida, Potential of pyridinium ionic liquids in a cellulosic biomass pretreatment process, 15th International Biotechnology Symposium and Exhibition, 2012.09.
, The 2nd International Conference on Molecular and Functional Catalysis, 2012.07.


It is still too early to point to definitive evidence of that, but Green finance has several factors on its side that will drive adoption. Consumers, regulators and investors are demanding that companies show what they are doing to mitigate problems like climate change. A failure to answer the question adequately could mean missing out on investment from global fund managers, or spending by socially conscious millennials.
Even if issuers have no specific ambitions to be labelled Green, they certainly do not want to be flagged as polluters. It makes sense to tell the world what they are doing to reduce waste – which all efficient businesses should be striving to achieve, in any case.
In Asia, there is no doubt that some Green financings have simply been a marketing exercise, but the growth of the asset class has gained real momentum, with markets like China and Singapore making a push to encourage it.
City Developments has been developing energy-efficient buildings for years, and last year became the first corporate issuer of Green bonds in Singapore, while the Monetary Authority of Singapore has introduced incentives to encourage others to follow. On top of that, the Singapore Exchange now requires listed companies to publish an annual sustainability report.
In China, there has been a top-down effort to make Green finance an integral part of the financial system, leading to big debt raisings onshore and offshore from the biggest banks and state-owned enterprises.
Some issuers are also using Green finance to show their own transformations. This year saw the first Asian sovereign Green bond issue, from coal and palm oil exporter Indonesia, and agricultural commodities companies headquartered in Singapore have taken loans that charge a lower rate if certain sustainability benchmarks are met.
Raising funds in a way that emphasises that a business is running on Green principles may not result in a lower cost of financing, but it could attract a broader investor base and help maintain market access during periods of turbulence.
On top of all that, having Green values pleases internal stakeholders too. Employees are more engaged if they know their company stands for positive values.
Other companies may also want reassurances that the parties with which they do business have a Green approach.
Companies could ignore all of this and continue business as usual. That risks others assuming that they have dirty, smoky secrets to hide.
The tide is turning towards Green finance, and those who fail to emphasise their environmentally friendly sides could find that investors and consumers treat them no differently to issuers in polluting industries.


It really is important that you are very specific and on point about the very things you are to incorporate when it comes to getting the most conversion possible. Remember that there will most certainly be a number of things that needs to be considered just so you will be able to ensure you are making the right investment and to be able to confirm that they are to be guaranteed to feel valued and happy, which is why you need to be as detailed as you could when it comes to opting to communicate properly with them.
As much as possible, you need to make sure that you are to incorporate other marketing methods as a means for you to guarantee and ensure that you are not just relying alone on being able to communicate properly. Reading the following items we have included below should give you a far better idea on the very factors that along the way.
Of all the things that you need to consider and look into, it is imperative that you know how to value the customer's feedback because of the fact that this should matter greatly along the way, plus this gives the customer the impression that their words are valued. This makes it really important for you to make sure that you need to communicate properly to ensure and guarantee that things are being handled accordingly.
Keep in mind that it also is imperative for you to make sure that you will have to consider and look into the things that matter, this means that you will have think ahead of possible problems that will most certainly give a pain in the back. Planning or using these things accordingly surely is going to lead you to a security that you will be able to avoid the need to worry about problems you will encounter along the way. This makes it important for you to communicate properly as a means to identify possible problems they are having at the moment.
To be able to communicate properly with your customers also is one way for you to actually see your business from their perspective. Furthermore, this should help you in a way that you will be able to see how and what needs done to satisfy your possible problem and whatnot.
Being able to incorporate the things that matter is what you want to specifically look into. As much as possible, you need to be specific and on point about being able to meet their needs to make them happy as this should help your business get recognized as a credible and a reputable provider.


Duke, a 12-year-old senior Australian shepherd was picked up and carried 1,000 feet by a tornado that touched down in Davie County, North Carolina.
He was flung through the air by the swirling wind and "tossed just like a rag doll," Duke's owner, Lewis Vannoy described to People. When Vannoy found Duke, he was lying on the ground, unable to walk and crying in pain.
He suffered various injuries from the hard fall including a broken leg and a damaged retina. He underwent several operations but he's now doing well and is expected to make a full recovery.
I can only imagine how scared Duke was while he was being thrown around high above the ground. Thankfully, he survived, and although he was injured, the outcome could have been much worse.
Vannoy's horse was also injured but is now doing okay. His house, among many other structures in the area, was destroyed. But Vannoy is just happy that his furry best friend is okay.
He is staying positive and is just very grateful. "I'll build another house and we will make more memories," he said to People.
1. Bring your pets inside.
2. Keep emergency pet supplies in a tornado-proof room or basement.
3. Make sure pets are wearing collars and identification tags at all times. Also have them microchipped.
4. Practice bringing pets into the tornado-safe room.
5. Be sure the tornado-safe area is pet friendly.
6. If you must evacuate, take your pet and emergency pet supplies with you.
7. After the tornado, take special care of your pet.


text:
Q: PyQt5: self is NoneType when using slot/signals I'm having some problems when trying to use slot/signals on a custom class.
The class looks like this:
import sys
from PyQt5 import QtCore
from PyQt5.QtGui import QGuiApplication, QPixmap

class Screenshot(QtCore.QObject):
    newScreenshotTaken = QtCore.pyqtSignal(QPixmap)
    timer = QtCore.QTimer()
    captureInterval = 5 * 60

    def __init__(self):
        super(Screenshot, self).__init__()

    def startCapture(self):
        self.capture()

    def stopCapture(self):
        self.timer.stop()

    def on_userStartedCapture(self):
        self.startCapture()

    def on_userStoppedCapture(self):
        self.stopCapture()

    def capture(self):
        print("capture!")

The error happens at on_userStartedCapture(self):
  File "/Volumes/HD2/test/screenshot.py", line 23, in on_userStartedCapture
    self.startCapture()
AttributeError: 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'startCapture'

Emit is called from another class:
self.userStartedCapture.emit()

And the connect is done at main.py:
screenshot = Screenshot()
mainWindow = MainWindow()

mainWindow.userStartedCapture.connect(screenshot.on_userStartedCapture)

The strange thing is that self works on all slots/signals in my application. But I can't find out why this specific one is failing.
Any ideas of what might be happening?

A: The error is raised because self is None at the time the signal is sent. Which is to say, the instance of Screenshot the signal is connected to has been deleted (or is in the process of being deleted).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
BF&M calls for clarity on healthcare reform
?Jonathan Kent, Business Editor
Published May 9, 2019 at 8:00 am (Updated May 9, 2019 at 11:26 am)
BF&M chief executive John Wight
Michelle Jackson, the senior vice-president, group lines, health and life at BF&M
Health insurance Act amendment passed
Senate passes health insurance Bill
House approves hospital funding-grant change
Wilson to answer questions on health premiums
Colonial CEO has healthcare reform concerns
Calls for more dialogue on healthcare reform
The Bermuda Government's singling out of BF&M for criticism over health insurance premium increases is clouding the bigger picture of the ramifications of healthcare financing reform.
That is the view of BF&M executives, who said there was much uncertainty about how the new system would work, with just 3½ weeks to go before its planned implementation.
Kim Wilson, the health minister, said last week that it was "unconscionable" that BF&M should blame the impact of government reforms for an increase in premiums.
She added that a letter from BF&M to clients was "misleading" and inaccurate.
In an interview, John Wight, BF&M's chief executive officer, said the letter to clients was intended to clarify what went into premium rate decisions.
"Our primary objective was to educate our customers," Mr Wight said. "This is a normal part of our discussion with clients and we want to be fully transparent."
He added that the imminent reforms did nothing to address the drivers of healthcare cost increases.
A new system for funding the hospital is scheduled to kick in on June 1.
It involves the Government paying an annual grant to the Bermuda Hospitals Board, capped at $330 million for the coming year to replace the existing fee-for-service model.
Mr Wight said there seemed to be a lack of understanding in the healthcare industry about how things would operate under the revamped system.
To fund the block hospital payment, the Government will more than triple the amount it takes directly from the monthly premiums paid to health insurers from $101.97 to $331.97, with the proceeds going into the Mutual Reinsurance Fund.
BF&M has characterised this as an "indirect tax", a description Ms Wilson rejected.
Michelle Jackson, BF&M's senior vice-president, group lines health and life, said public discussion should not focus on the Government's attack on BF&M.
"There is a much, much bigger picture," Ms Jackson said. "There are wider questions about the $330 million cap and what happens as healthcare costs continue to go up and what that means for future years."
The Government had informed BF&M of the planned financing reforms only about three months ago, she said, and now the reforms were just weeks away from being implemented with much uncertainty about many aspects.
Ms Jackson said under the present system, insurers manage and process their clients' hospital claims.
This gives the insurer data, allowing them to analyse trends, as well as creating a check and balance in the system to ensure treatment of their clients is appropriate and efficient.
Under the new system, insurers will no longer manage claims or receive information on claims from the hospital when its clients receive treatment, according to Ms Jackson.
Ricky Brathwaite, the acting chief executive of the Bermuda Health Council, said last week that insurers would receive data on their clients' hospital care. Ms Jackson said BF&M had received no guidance on what claims data would be shared.
She said health insurance premiums include two components.
First, the standard premium rate, which is set by the Government and which covers most hospital services, diagnostic imaging and support of government-administered plans.
This component is made up of the standard health benefit, managed by insurers, and the Mutual Reinsurance Fund contribution, paid straight to the Government. Under the reforms 93 per cent of the SPR will go to the MRF, leaving just $23.34 of the total $355.31 be.
The second component is comprehensive coverage, the extra non-hospital benefits provided by insurers on most policies, such as prescription drugs, dental care and mental healthcare.
In its letter to clients, BF&M states: "We will be increasing comprehensive coverage premium rates by more than in years past as a result of our significantly reduced SHB premiums (approximately 90 per cent less than current).
"Given current health trends and healthcare cost inflation, we project premiums will not be sufficient to pay expected claims for 2019-20 without this increase."
Healthcare cost inflation was running at 6.5 per cent, well above general inflation, a rate that would likely accelerate as the population aged, leading to greater use of health services and higher claims, Ms Jackson said.
The Royal Gazette approached health insurers Argus and Colonial, asking whether they had increased premiums and for views on Ms Wilson's comments about BF&M.
A spokeswoman for Argus said adjustments to premiums "take into account a number of factors, including but not limited to the rising cost of healthcare".
She added: "As per the Aon 2019 Global Medical Trend Rates Report, global medical inflation is currently trending at 7.8 per cent, however, Bermuda traditionally experiences greater increases due to our high incidence of chronic disease and utilisation of services.
"It is important to understand that adjustments vary by corporate client as they are based on the respective claims experience for each client and their particular benefit package.
"Regardless of changes to legislation, we know that a healthy lifestyle, supported by healthcare professionals, is the key to keeping premiums low and driving down overall costs."
No one at Colonial was available for comment.
• This story was amended to show that BF&M referred to an "indirect tax" and not a "direct tax" in its letter to clients.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Home > About Us > News Media > Derby Veterans Track and Field Match Report
Derby Veterans Track and Field Match Report
On 4th July the Veterans Track and Field Team headed to Derby.
With the location within travelling distance the team saw a welcome return from Peter Gorgine in the M50 2k walk closely followed in time by the 3k run. Peter and his wife Sue also helped with field officiating.
With Paul Young on his holidays the team sadly were lacking a M60 competitor for this fixture.
Richard Coleman did the M50 200m and M40 shot and his highest finish was in the M50 Javelin with 27.54. Andy Clawson doubled up with 4th position in both 800m and 3000m. Matthew Watson gained a pb in the M35 200m in 28.8 and also ran the 3000m.
Steve Sinnott came 2nd in M40 200m and triple jump and third in the pole vault. Tony James ran his way to 2nd in the M35 800m with a new pb and club record of 2.08.8(M45 club record). The 4 x 100m relay team of Andy, Steve, Tony and Matthew finished in 2nd in 53.2 and would have been a club record if Matthew had been 40 rather than 39 years of age!!
In the girls team Kathy Coleman had a typically busy evening in M50 200m, discus, javelin and her highest finish 3rd in the 2k walk. Alison Moxey also competed in similar number of events, W40 200m, W40 triple jump, W35 long jump and made her debut with 3rd place in the 2k walk.
Katy Williams finished a fine 3rd in W40 200m in 31.4. Babs Poncia and Trudi Pike both doubled up in the W50 and W35 800m and 3000m.
The team now look forward to the Finals in Solihull on Saturday 1st September.


text:
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HomeNewsU.S. pork can reduce U.S. trade deficit with China by nearly 6%
USDA confirms additional HPAI finding in wild birds
Afternoon Market Recap for January 18, 2022
Downing to lead NARA's international marketing program
SPECIAL eREPORT: New research on soybeans in monogastric diets
India's wheat, rice subsidies under fire
ADM opens new Aquaculture Innovation Lab in Decatur
U.S. pork can reduce U.S. trade deficit with China by nearly 6%
AmyLaughinghouse_iStock_Thinkstock
Pork sales would generate $24.5 billion if U.S. pork gained unrestricted access to China.
Krissa Welshans | Nov 26, 2019
Securing zero-tariff access to China for U.S. pork would be an economic boon for American agriculture and the country, according to the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). Based on an analysis by Iowa State University (ISU) economist Dermot Hayes, NPPC said unrestricted access to the Chinese chilled and frozen market would reduce the overall trade deficit with China by nearly 6% and generate 184,000 new U.S. jobs in the next decade. NPPC has launched a digital campaign to spotlight the importance of opening the Chinese market to U.S. pork as trade negotiations continue.
"Were it not for China's tariffs that are severely limiting access to American goods and other restrictions, including customs clearance delays, U.S. pork could be an economic powerhouse, creating thousands of new jobs, expanding sales and dramatically slashing our nation's trade deficit. China's actions would unleash tremendous benefits to U.S. pork producers, our nation and Chinese consumers who rely on this essential protein," Hayes said.
According to Hayes' analysis, U.S. pork sales would generate $24.5 billion if U.S. pork gained unrestricted access to the world's largest pork-producing nation over 10 years.
"The U.S. pork industry is missing out on an unprecedented sales opportunity in China when it most needs an affordable, safe and reliable supply of its favored protein," said NPPC president David Herring, a hog farmer from Lillington, N.C. "The United States is the lowest-cost producer of pork in the world, but with 72% tariffs, we are not nearly as competitive as Europe, Brazil, Canada and other nations."
Pork is a staple of the Chinese diet and a major element of the country's Consumer Price Index. China's swine herd has been devastated by African swine fever (ASF), reducing domestic production by more than 50% and resulting in a mounting food price inflation challenge for the country.
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) reported recently that while September pork exports to China/Hong Kong were "dramatically higher" than a year ago, they pulled back from the large totals posted over the previous two months as China's domestic pork supplies felt increasing pressure from ASF.
September export volume was 51,192 metric tons, up 158% from a year ago, while value increased 123% to $115.6 million. For January through September, exports to China/Hong Kong were up 47% in volume to 407,514 mt and 25% in value to $833.5 million, USMEF noted.
TAGS: Business Markets Livestock & Poultry
Tuttle promoted to vice president of sales and marketing for Brock Grain Systems


text:
Internal and external notification window
25 January 2023 The "development of aquaculture and the formation of the fish economy in the name of the "green agreement" in Armenia and Ukraine has started. Erasmus+ Capacity Development Program " from education to ecology" (AFISCHE) Today, the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia gave the "development of aquaculture and fisheries education in the name of the "green deal" in Armenia and Ukraine. Launch of the Erasmus+ capacity development program "from education to ecology" (AFISCHE).
23 January 2023 Works carried out by the Forest Committee of the Ministry of Environment in 2022 Reforestation and afforestation works on the territory of 237 hectares of branches of "forestry" of "Armles" SNCO of the forestry Committee, 250 thousand planting materials with a closed root system have been grown, It was built on the 5th floor
23 January 2023 At the initiative of the Ministry of Environment, an event was held at the State Museum of Nature of Armenia - the presentation of environmental games At the initiative of the Ministry of Environment, an event was held at the State Museum of Nature of Armenia - the presentation of environmental games. The event was attended by representatives of professional departments of the Ministry, schoolchildren from different regions of the republic and representatives of public organizations.
30 December 2022 The current activities of banning whitefish hunting in Lake Sevan were discussed In the Ministry of Environment under the leadership of Minister Hakob Simidyan, Deputy Minister Tigran Gabrielyan, "Sevan" National Park, RA Police, Ministry of Territorial Management and Infrastructure, Gegharkunik Governorate, Environmental Protection and Subsoil Inspection Authority, Food Safety Inspection Authority and Yerevan Municipality, RA NAS Sevan Lake Protection an extended consultation was held with the participation of the representatives of the expert committee to discuss the implementation of the joint activities and cooperation program during the whitefish spawning period in Lake Sevan.
27 December 2022 Today Minister of Environment Hakob Simidyan met Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of Armenia Fukushima Masanori Deputy Minister Tigran Gabrielyan took part in the meeting. Welcoming the Ambassador to the Ministry of Environment, the Minister first of all expressed gratitude to the Government of Japan for the constant support provided to the Republic of Armenia in various fields. "Cooperation between the Governments of the Republic of Armenia and Japan, in particular, in the field of the environment, is stable and effective.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: Stereo Camera Geometry This paper describes nicely the geometry of a stereo image system. I am trying to figure out, if the cameras tilted towards each other with a certain angle, how the calculation would change? I looked around but couldn't find any reference to tilted camera systems.

A: Unfortunately, the calculation changes significantly. The rectified case (where both cameras are well-aligned to each other) has the advantage that you can calculate the disparity and the depth is proportional to the disparity. This is not the case in the general case.
When you introduce tilts, you end up with something called epipolar geometry. Here is a paper about this I just googled. In order to calculate the depth from a pixel-pair you need the fundamental matrix or the essential matrix. Both are not easy to obtain from the image pair. If, however, you have the geometric relation of both cameras (translation and rotation), calculating these matrices is a lot easier.
There are several ways to calculate the depth of a pixel-pair. One way is to use the fundamental matrix to rectify both images (although rectifying is not easy either, or even unique) and run a simple disparity check.


1) Renaming Lake Louise Elementary School in honor of the retiring Dr Thompson is off the table. The Lake Louise name will remain.
2) The idea of hiring retired police officers as clerical staff was always just an idea, not a plan. The board is not moving forward on it.
Gun safety is still a priority. The board is moving ahead on the first phase of modifications for secure entrances. The vestibules at Carl Sandburg, Hunting Ridge, Kimball Hill, Virginia Lake, and Plum Grove will be modified this summer. Visitors will no longer be able to move directly into the hallway upon being buzzed in. They will have to pass through the office first.
The Boundaries Task Force, a group of community members representing all schools in the district, has been meeting to develop proposed adjustments to school boundaries in order to better meet the needs of the community, and to alleviate overcrowding at several schools.
The committee has worked through one preliminary proposal and is now starting to create at least two additional proposals. Once complete, all proposals will be shared with the community for feedback.
If approved by the Board of Education, the earliest any change in school boundaries could be implemented would be fall of 2020.
Support staff are back at work - - but without a contract. For the third month in a row, program assistants wearing matching yellow t-shirts packed the meeting room. Remarks about the continuing strife were held until the citizens' address of the board portion of the meeting. There is great frustration on both sides. Board President Lisa Sczupaj stated that negotiation sessions are scheduled and that the work toward resolution continues.
The district faces financial uncertainty in the next few years. The Illinois General Assembly is evaluating a bill (SB851) to freeze property taxes for two years. If it passes, D15 could lose $20 million over the next 4 years. The proposed development of the Motorola property in Schaumburg (a TIF) includes 2400 new residences, most of which would be within District 15 boundaries. Supt Thompson is requesting that the planners flip the commercial and residential areas so that the majority of new residences will be within Schaumburg District 54, which has extra classroom space. Additionally, $7.5 million in capital projects are needed next year to keep schools in good repair.
The board is in the process of setting its share of the local property tax rate for 2017. The district is requesting an estimated 3.9% adjustment above last year's tax revenues to capture anticipated growth in the Consumer Price Index and any new construction within its boundaries.
Contract negotiations with the Educational Support Personnel Association (ESPA) is still the topic in District 15. Dressed in bright yellow t-shirts, ESPA members packed the meeting for the second month in a row. After a full day of negotiating prior to the Wednesday meeting, ESPA Secretary Jennifer Elkins and School Board President Lisa Szupaj both said that progress had been made. Negotiations will continue next week with a potential walk-out date on October 16.
October School Spotlight reports were given by the principals of Virginia Lake Elementary and Carl Sandburg Junior High. Fall enrollment is down 100 students from last year. Overall, class sizes are below targeted numbers. Program assistants have been assigned to over-sized classes. Target numbers: K 20, Gr 1-3 24, Gr 4-5 26, Gr 6 28. There are 877.5 certified personnel, down 2 from last year.
Most buildings are at capacity space wise. Hard decisions are coming soon in regard to classroom space. There is a push for all-day kindergarten (District 15 is one of 3 districts in the state that do not offer it) and preschool special education numbers are going up. Over 3000 students qualify as English Language Learners (ELL). The district is proud to finally have a Bulgarian teacher.
Visitors: parents of children from Thomas Jefferson reciting the pledge, 2 parents adding the board, over 100 program assistants all wearing matching yellow t-shirts in a show of solidarity in regard to their current contract negotiations with the board, board lawyer, building design engineers. Standing room only with overflow in the hallway.
A representative of the Educational Support Personnel Association reminded the board of how crucial program assistants are to the school community. The association and the board are currently in contract negotiations.
A parent of a child at Marion Jordan Elementary expressed concern over class sizes at the school and the limitations of math instruction for gifted students.
Discussion of life-safety and capital projects completed over the summer.
School enrollment update. The exact numbers are always in flux but enrollment is declining - - about a 3% decrease in the last year.
Proposal to update the district website and connective communication. Included in the upgrade will be District 15 app and a streamlined platform for texting between teachers and parents.
A legal discussion by district attorney Tom Luigi on the current definition of an open meeting. Facebook,discussions with short times between responses and with 3 or more members participating can be open meetings. The board may not meet in secret.
A discussion of a $4-5 million maintenance project next summer at Plum Grove Jr High and the necessity to expand the budget to pay for it. Many components of the 20 district schools are reaching or have surpassed their life expectancy. Example: carpeting at Pleasant Hill is 19 years old and more than threadbare.


text:
Coconuts Singapore
Friday | January 28, 2022
Rubbish tossed by residents blocks a passage at Singapore's Pearl Bank Apartments, scheduled for demolition in coming weeks. Photo by Robin Hicks
By Robin Hicks
Apr 9, 2019 | 10:03am Singapore time
The end of anything is rarely pretty, but Singapore's iconic Pearl Bank Apartments definitely isn't getting much of a swan song on its way out.
Just three weeks before residents of the building are to move out ahead of its demolition later in the year, the horse shoe-shaped condominium — Singapore's tallest, most densely populated condo when constructed in 1976 –has been turned into something of a rubbish dump.
On almost every one of the building's 37 floors, trash piled above head-height blocks access to service elevators, in some cases blocking corridors and fire escape stairwells.
Photo by Robin Hicks
Coconuts Singapore found broken glass, fiberglass and waste food strewn on the floor by rubbish bins, as residents dump the contents of their apartments as they move out.
Refrigerators, washing machines, sofas, cupboards, mattresses, and splintered plasterboard used to divide apartments into smaller units litter the place, which is starting to resemble the aftermath of a tsunami.
About half of the apartments in the building are still occupied, mostly by residents on short-term contracts.
The building must be cleared and cleaned before it is handed over to the new owners, Capitaland, which acquired Pearl Bank following a S$728 million en bloc sale in February 2018.
Residents must vacate the building by the end of this month.
Pearl Bank management's requests for residents to hire contractors to remove their unwanted items, posted on walls and in lifts all over the building, appear to have been ignored.
"It's a sad state of affairs," said Kym Ong, a resident of Pearl Bank for 40 years. "These people [dumping their trash] are plain inconsiderate. It's a health and safety hazard. Emergency exits have to be kept clear and unobstructed at all times."
The iconic Pearl Bank Apartments was Singapore's tallest and most densely populated condominium when constructed in 1976. Photo: Coconuts Media
Pearl Bank's management told Coconuts they are trying to deal with the "illegal dumping" problem as quickly as they can, and have hired five extra staff to clear the mountains of rubbish. There are currently just two cleaning staff for the whole building.
"We have tried to clear the areas regularly, but the next day rubbish has piled up to the ceiling again," a spokesperson from Pearl Bank Apartments management said.
Located in Outram Park, Pearl Bank is one of Singapore's most famous residential buildings, the unmistakably bizarre, brutalist creation of revered architect Tan Cheng Siong.
One resident, who preferred to remain nameless, said he has noticed that the building had rapidly gone into disrepair since the announcement of the en bloc sale last year.
Cracks have appeared in the walls and the building's chronic dampness issues worsening, with leaks found on most floors and creeping damp seeping through the walls.
"It's like when people retire. They age quickly," he said.
Topics: Singapore, Features, Photo Essays


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MEGADETH Mixing New Live DVD; Special Announcement Coming Tomorrow
MEGADETH will make a "special announcement" tomorrow (Tuesday, September 30) at 6 a.m. PT / 13:00 GMT via Megadeth.com.
According to a posting on the band's web site, acclaimed British record producer/engineer Andy Sneap (MACHINE HEAD, NEVERMORE, EXODUS, ARCH ENEMY) arrived last night to meet up with MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine and the crew at the band's new studio near San Diego, California. The studio is being custom-built to record the next MEGADETH album and more. Over the next few days Andy will be tweaking and mixing the new MEGADETH live DVD which was recorded in San Diego during the last tour, and will soon be seen on HDNet TV.
Sneap produced MEGADETH's last album, "United Abominations", which came out in May 2007 via Roadrunner Records. Mustaine previously stated about working with Andy, "We'd been working with Jeff Balding, who does a great job. But we knew we needed something else to give the material that extra push, so we brought in Andy. It was cool because he isn't like some big rock-star producer. He was just another Joe to me. So we were trading jokes and laughing and it was fun. My sense of humour is pretty close to a British one, so we worked well together. Also, Andy told me I was the reason that he got into playing metal in the first place, which was really flattering."
MEGADETH's forthcoming album will be the group's first with guitarist Chris Broderick (NEVERMORE, JAG PANZER), who replaced Glen Drover (Shawn's brother) at the end of last year.
RONNIE JAMES DIO Hologram To Return To The Road In May


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Home › Articles & Blogs › Squirrel Pox Could Threaten Scotland's Red Squirrels
Squirrel Pox Could Threaten Scotland's Red Squirrels
The squirrel parapoxvirus is mostly asymptomatic in its grey host; it has little or no effect. However, once the virus is transmitted to their red cousin it causes the fatal disease known as "squirrel pox".
By Richard Hassall on 3rd April 2012 in Ecology, Nature & Wildlife
Image: By Photograph by: Hernán De Angelis Campephilus (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
Red squirrel conservation in Scotland is vital to protect the last stronghold of the UK's squirrel population. The introduction of the non-native grey squirrel has seen a massive decline in red squirrel numbers throughout the UK. This robust and hardy species poses a great threat as it is able to out compete the red squirrel in mixed woodland (containing both coniferous and deciduous trees) and it carries the deadly squirrel parapoxvirus.
The squirrel parapoxvirus is mostly asymptomatic in its grey host; it has little or no effect. However, once the virus is transmitted to their red cousin it causes the fatal disease known as "squirrel pox". The disease causes legions, ulcers and scabs on the skin of red squirrels and they become extremely lethargic and eventually die. To date there has been little sign of immunity to this disease in red squirrels.
It is believed that "squirrel pox" had a big part to play in the massive decline of the red squirrel in much of the UK and up until now the virus has been contained to the far south of Scotland, due to effective grey control measures. Now it is a new cause for concern in Scotland. Recently it has been discovered further north in locations towards central Scotland. This leap is worrying as the virus may eventually make its way further north. The virus is prevalent in grey squirrel populations in both England and Wales where the red squirrel is now nearly extinct. So if the virus finds its way further into Scotland this could be catastrophic for the UK's red squirrel numbers. Trapping in this area is due to begin so blood samples can be taken from grey squirrels to establish just how prevalent the virus is in this area.
If you spot a red squirrel showing these symptoms or spot a dead red squirrel showing signs of squirrel pox you could be a great help by getting in touch with you local wildlife conservation organisation. If this virus was to spread north we could see a decline in red squirrel numbers that may not be recoverable.
Tags: diseasered squirrelsscotlandUK
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Seabird Spectacular
Look out to our coasts and coastal waters, and it's there you'll find our greatest avian riches.
By Chris Foster
H is for Hen Harrier
Once seen, never forgotten. Indeed, a sighting of this charismatic raptor would crown any walk in England's beautiful uplands.
A-Z of Invasive Marine Species: Janua brasiliensis
This species is widespread in tropical areas, which means that its suspected point of origin is not conclusive.
By Amy Featherstone
Plenty of Puffins
Most people go to see puffins. The bird for people who don't even like birds: with their clown-like technicolour beaks and comedy routines, nobody could fail to be won over.
And we'll send you lots of interesting stuff!


We offer full day guided lakes excursions (8 hours) to the Alentejo Plains (inland).
During our tour we will visit the Lagoa dos Patos (Duck lagoon).
Although known as the Duck Lagoon, this wetland is in fact a reservoir. Although not a major water area, here you can see the highest concentrations of ducks throughout the Alentejo. Moreover the adjacent rice paddies attract waders and other waterbirds. A visit to the Lagoa dos Patos is unavoidable.
There are two areas of interest: the lagoon itself and the rice fields downstream. The Patos Lagoon stands by concentrations of waterfowl as well as Egrets and other waders as Spoonbills and Flamingos. The margin of the pond does not have much vegetation which hinders the approach of the birds, so a telescope can be very useful (which we will bring).
It is worth scrutinizing the shores of the lagoon, where usually occur some waders as the Black-winged Stilt and Sandpipers. Just below the wall there is a set of agricultural land that is often flooded and where in some years rice is grown.
This area is good for watching waders, Snipes and sometimes Dunlins, Sandpipers etc.. The Water Pipit is frequent present here. The ditches surrounding the fields are housing Moorhens, Cetti´s Warblers and in the cold season, some Reed Buntings.
Sometimes you can also see some Spanish Sparrows. It is also a breeding place of Collared Pratnicoles.


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Q: Could using fewer antennae than a wireless NIC has connectors for cause any problems? Could damage to a radio occur?
Is there likely to be a performance impact?
If connecting one or two of a possible three antennae, will the choice of antenna ports used have any impact?

A: Damage: certainly not.
Performance: yes. Best case is some loss of speed, for other devices with three antennas. For devices with one or two, maybe not. Worst case, maybe a big drop in speed.
Choice of ports: might matter. I can only say check the manual. See if the AP can be set to 802.11n with two antennas, 2x2 MIMO or something, and see which two they are.


Opportunities presented by an aging population will not be fully realized unless business leaders act now to prepare for this irreversible shift in demography. To discuss the significance of population aging for the business sector and society at large, the Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging, with the collaboration and support of the M Center of Excellence at The American College of Financial Services, convened the 2017 Summit on Business and the Future of Aging in Los Angeles.
This report includes commentary from the summit's participants, as well as data and insights from multiple sources and identifies opportunities, innovations, human capital strategies, and forward-looking policies and practices to realize the upside of aging. It offers thoughtful, fact-filled assessments of the growing economic power of older adults, the underutilized resource of mature workers, advances that can dramatically extend lifespan, health and productivity, and a call to action.
In "The Business of Aging" essay series, prominent thought leaders discuss solutions for longevity in conjunction with innovation, finance, and health.


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Review title of UnknownDO NOT BUY!
I'm a huge baseball fan and I used to get all the 2k baseball games for xbox. This is the first RBI game I've bought because they seemed like they were gradually improving every year and I wanted to give it a try. But this game is a complete mess and should have NEVER been released like this. Everyone who bought it should demand a refund. The gameplay is very laggy. I've only played a few games but I've already had to restart the game multiple times because the game would freeze. This game is a joke and complete garbage. DO NOT BUY IT! Update: Game is still broken. They fixed some bugs but created even more new ones. The gameplay feels even more laggy after the update and I don't even now how thats possible. Literally the worst game I've ever played! I'll be buying a PS4 in the near future just for The Show. Microsoft has had 5 years to find a developer to create a decent baseball game and I'm done waiting! Good job Microsoft, chasing away a loyal Xbox customer for over a decade!
83 out of 95 people found this helpful.
Game is terrible. Mechanics are awful. Pictchers only throw one pitch type. Do not buy. Gave one star because I couldn't put zero.
i wish franchise was more indepth, but i love the arcade aspect with realistic stats.
Im happy with the interface and music. Getting smoked on medium but I guess thats the learning curve. Having 10 years in franchise and hr derby are a net positive. The bugs hamper the game too much. A roster update prevented a pitcher from throwing the ball creating a need to close the game. That got fixed, but I just got looped in a between inning screen.
Review title of CHK0420XBOX NEEDS A REAL BASEBALL GAME!
This is one of the worst games I have ever played.
Review title of ChuckNorrisUSAFIs this in Beta?
did anyone playtest this game? ive been patiently waiting for this to drop...and it sure did drop my expectations. first off, i cant even press B to back out of adjusting the main roster for the game. 2nd, why am i limited to only 3 bench hitters and 500 relief pitchers? no option to adjust the players on the bench. maybe i want a bare bones pen and a loaded bench. come on guys and gals. not to mention the nightmare and lop sided AI. im impressed on the basic visual upgrades, but please get it together and fix the common sense stuff ASAP!!!


The graphics studio floor consists of the lectures offices, a Macintosh lab with 18 computers, a reception area with lockers and two large design studios which are used for the more practical based courses such as drawing techniques, life drawing, commercial Illustration, Typography, Painting etc. There is also a photography studio which is used by the students for the photo and video based practical courses like photography, broadcast and motion graphics. Students have also access to a dark studio where they can create their photos using the traditional means of photo developing.