Life: Spring, AACR, Less-starch diet

Lottery. Oh, well. Next time.


It's warming up lately, around 90F in the afternoon. Inspired by today's June-like weather, and better late than never, I did Spring cleaning. Beginning vacuuming and laundry, I even did shoe shining. It is almost disturbing to find how much dust is hiding in the rooms. At the same time, I am happy to see the dusts are gone. 


Tomorrow I'll do car wash and waxing if weather permits.


Some of my colleagues are going  to AACR (American Association for Cancer Research) annual meeting in Chicago, starting today. Last year's meeting was at Orlando, FL. This year my materials were somewhat preliminary, so I decided to go to another smaller meeting instead. The AACR annual meeting is huge meeting, lasts for 4 days and gather more than 20,000 people. It does provide good opportunity for updating my knowledge and feel the direction of the entire cancer research. But you can also argue that it's too big.


My another colleague lent me a book about diabetic diet. I am not diabetic. But my mother is on borderline and has been ordered to take good care by her doctor.


When someone says "Take good care", a natural question is, "OK I will, but how?" I knew diet is a front line preventive/control measure for diabetes, but I did not know exactly what to do. I was curious about the theories.


The book author, a doctor in Kyoto, has his simple theory; that is, "cut down starch and sugar contents". Starch/carbohydrates can be directly digested to sugar, and they have a major impact on after meal blood sugar surge. The notion is to reduce the starch/carbohydrates/sugar contents from diet, so that harmful blood sugar fluctuation is contained. Proteins, fat and other components can be metabolized to sugar, but it takes extra time so that the sugar surge is gentle.


It sounds simple. But think of starch/carbohydrates/sugar contents. They are rice, pasta, bread, potato, pizza crust, sweets and many fruits. Hmm.


What you can eat is the rest. Vegetables, mushrooms, unsweetened yogurt, cheese, tofu and soybean products, meats, egg, healthy oils, spices......


You can drink, too. But fermented drinks (Beer, wine, sake) are to be consumed in smaller amount, because they retain some sugar. Spirits are better, they say.


Well, it's a theory, and sounds simple enough to implement. I'll give the diet a try for 3-7 days and see what happens. Who knows? My pancreas may get some (much needed ?) rest, and I may notice some recognizable change in my health.

Life: Mega-Lottery

Yesterday I wrote a post about Department of Defense funding, but the written and saved part somehow disappeared. Was it because of a server error? I don't really like it when that happens.

So I'll turn to current topics. As of 3/29/2012 in the US, they say Megamillion lottery winning has risen to 500 million dollars. Wow. Impressed, I bought a ticket with $5 ($1 for a drawing so I got 5 drawings). Now I am eligible for winning. Hehe.

Let's say you won. What would you do with the half a billion dollars? It's a huge sum of money far beyond personal finance.

First things first. The money would need good management, investment and tax planning. I'll assemble a team for the money accordingly. But I wouldn't make it completely someone else's business. I'll keep an eye on it. Of course, with my wife.

Now, there will be some questions.

Do you keep your job?

I'll remain as a scientist, but my involvement will be changed. I would use 10% of the winning to set up a fund to promote scientific research, and take an administrative position. Even 3% annual return of 50 million dollars is 1.5 million dollars, and it can support a number of research projects.

The granting institution would fund research related to (i) cancer, (ii) cell cycle biology (for which I have been trained and working), and (iii) stroke-related brain damage.

Do you change your lifestyle? Do you buy anything?

Money can buy a lot of things. Sure, I would upgrade some of my stuff and my family's. But I can do it later and over time. I wouldn't hurry to buy a new car. But I would take more time traveling and going to dance events.

One thing I would not do is "spend, spend, spend". It's a fool's mantra.

I would be cautious about someone else's cause and religious charities. But for local dancers and other artists, I would set up a fund to support activities.

Basic financial education I got tells me that "I pay myself first (10%), then charitable giving (10%), and think about the rest". I'd try to follow it. I feel good about it.

That much money will force you to think differently. And that kind of thinking (more like daydreaming) is fun.

It's not only fun. It does tell you who you are and what you really want. I'll indulge this daydreaming some more, later in the day. Perhaps later on, the "purpose" of the money would come clear.

Writing a blog post about lottery does not increase the chance of winning. But it does increase fun and preparedness for the miraculously rare event.

Life: Thank you note; my uncle

Thank you for concerns and caring words for my father. His condition and response seem to be improving in recent days. We will keep watching.

Incidentally, my uncle Shizuo (my father's elder brother), who had Parkinson's disease and long hospitalized, passed away a few days ago. Maybe he is telling my father to stick around?

Frankly, I am not certain what to wish for my father. But we will certainly try to bring good news for him.

Life: My father on St. Patrick's day 2012

Hydrocephalus is a condition in which you retain excessive fluids in the cavities in brain. Generally your skull provides excellent support and protection to your brain, but it can work against you in a hydrocephalus condition. The built-up pressure of the fluid has nowhere to go, starts compressing your brain and interfering with brain function.


And that is what is happening to my father. Several days ago he started snoring abnormally, and his response worsened. He has difficulty breathing. Yesterday they used a brain scanner and figured out what is going on.


Currently we are observing carefully.


Until early 2002, my father was running a small construction company in Japan. After the economic bubble burst and in the following turmoil, it was not an easy task. It was then when he had his first stroke. Someone found him collapsed on the floor of a parking lot, and called 911. The stroke left him half-paralyzed.


My relatives were busy closing down his company. As a small-sized company with about 10 employees, there was no way continuing it without him. I flew back to Japan and did what I could for 3 weeks. 


Afterwards, he and my mother started living in a city apartment. The place is barrier free and better equipped with wheelchair-friendly things.Their lives changed quite a bit. He enrolled in a rehabilitation program, and was showing a certain degree of recovery. 


On 2006 summer, he had another stroke at night. When my mother woke up in the morning, he was drenched in sweat. It was serious, and most relatives and doctors  believed he wouldn't make it. I flew back, thinking that I would have to take care of his funeral as his first born son.


When I got to Narita airport 3 days after the first phone call, I was surprised to know he was still hanging on. I took a bullet train and arrived at hospital. 


I went to his bedside in the Intensive Care Unit and met him. Until then, his condition was a mess. The stroke near his brain stem badly affected his ability to automatically regulate basic body functions such as breathing and maintaining body temperature and heart rate. His heart rate was keeping around 180-200/minute, alarmingly tough on the heart.


Then something unforgettable happened. When I called him, he cried. Tears came down from his closed eyes. His rough breathing suddenly turned calmer, and his heart rate decreased to an acceptable rate. And he slipped into a calmer sleep.


Everyone thought he had been waiting for my arrival. It was one of the most emotional moments in my life.


His condition fluctuated wildly during following weeks. It was emotionally tough on my mother, and physically tough on him. After another 3 weeks, I left there to get back to work.


The 2006 stroke took away his ability to move around completely, so we needed to leave him in the hospital. It was far beyond my mother's ability for care. Communication was severely limited. We were uncertain whether he was recognizing us.


Last year, on 2011 autumn, I got married and traveled to Japan . I went to see him once again. When I called him with my new wife, he responded. Much clearer than usual. He shook his right hand as hard as he could. His eyes seemed focused. We were certain that he heard us. I am glad that I could show him my wife.


Now his response is down. To relieve hydrocephalus, usually they surgically insert shunts and drain the fluid. But doctors and my mother are reluctant to perform the operation concerning whether such an invasive operation is beneficial at this stage. We are resorting to the use of internal medicine and observing, leaving it to God business.


His story is not over yet. Like Frodo and Sam said in the Lord of the Rings, his story is a part of bigger story that continues. I don't know how the story goes. Such is life.

Dance: Difference between a Dancer and a Dance Teacher.

Is it the age? Dancers are younger and dance teachers are older. Right?

Oh, come on.

Some of serious dancers I know have many hats. The hats I see often are; Dancer, Dance Teacher, Judge and Event Organizer.

Certainly, they are different functions. I'll talk about the first two "Dancer "and "Dance Teacher" today.

To have a "Dancer" title on your name card you better be able to dance well enough to entertain and convince others that you are indeed a dancer. There is a difference between "she is a dancer" and "yeah, she dances". To be a dancer, you want to be (or better be) good at the art of dancing.

There are many different dances. Hip hop and slow foxtrot are entirely different dances. Good at one dance doesn't mean you are good at another. To some extent you can transfer the skills to other dance, though. "Good at dancing" is somewhat similar to that elusive notion of being "strong" in martial arts. You are at a certain level and it shows.

To have a "Dance Teacher" title you better be knowledgeable enough about a dance, you usually dance the dance yourself, are able to teach a dance to others, and most importantly, can get others dance well. 

Some type of certification helps to standardize teaching, and it may help convincing students. Credentials on paper help in the same way. But think about it. They don't mean much, do they?

The best Dancer and the best Dance Teacher are not one and the same. You can be both, but it's not always the case. The best Dancers move and dance well by themselves. They are entertainers. The best Dance Teachers empower dances of others. The best Dance Teacher title can be claimed only through the dance of his students.

So here is the sticky issue. What if a teacher doesn't meet a good student? What if his students dance, hmm, not so well? It's a tough deal for the teacher, isn't it? I call it CTHD frustration. "CTHD" stands for "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", that kung fu movie with flying swordsmen. In the movie the sword master guy had his frustrations for having difficulty finding a student to whom he can pass on his superhuman kung fu.


Let's face it. There is a certain degree of athleticism involved in dancing. If you are aiming at high level performance, it will be required. Like not everyone is able or meant to run 100m in less than 10 seconds, not everyone is able to dance like young Baryshnikov. It does take good luck for a teacher to meet a student with both potential and willingness.

However, everyone can strive to achieve the best of what they got. Teachers can help them going for it. It is truly rewarding for a teacher if students achieve their best. And it is where all teachers should aim. In this sense, process is more important than result.


Of course, teachers, if you think this is BS, you are free to come up with some ideas to connect to the best students you can imagine.

Science: Grant project preparation, how research funding works in the US

A research grant, total $100K for 2 years starting April 2012, is funded and I am preparing for the project. I was celebrating for a while. Now is the time to get serious and get it started. It is taxpayer's money and I am bound to produce results and fulfill this government contract.

Here is a brief and simplified explanation about how biomedical research funding works in university settings in the US.

Usually a lead researcher (called Principal Investigator PI, usually with Professor/Associate professor/Assistant Professor title) makes plans for a research project. He sets everything up---provides his expertise, hires people if necessary, buys equipments and reagents, and conducts the project. He has some initial assistance to conduct research from his university as a part of start-up fund. But he doesn't want to spend the money quickly or totally. The money is time-stamped and with string, so to speak. He is expected to obtain outside money (i.e. grant) to conduct his research within a certain time after he joins the university. A part (or all) of his own salary is expected to be paid out of the extramural money afterwards.

When he asks grant from outside source, he also asks indirect cost, money that goes to his university. From his standpoint, it is like paying rent to the university. In return the university provides a place to conduct research (lab), associated necessities (heat, electricity, water, common research equipments, and other supports) and administrative support (grant officers). Other researchers in the university are his assets as well. He can set up collaboration with them for example.

From university's standpoint, a researcher who has more grant money is earning more money for them, and he is very welcome. His political power would increase as well.

Not all universities focus on research. Research, teaching and administrative work (for example, serving in a committee) are three major duties for people with Professor/Associate professor/Assistant Professor title, and expected ratio of these duties varies depending on the place. A community collage may be more teaching-oriented than some research-oriented universities.

The bottom line in this system is this: "you make your own money to conduct your research". For scientific research, raising money=getting grant is critical. Otherwise, you'll be out of business, sadly. Nowadays the success rate for the NIH (National Institutes of Health) grant application is about 10% or less. Many researchers are feeling the heat.

As the government is the biggest funding agency, budget tightening has direct impact on the nation's research activity. Changes in the direction of funding can kill entire research field easily.

Nowadays doing science as a PI is running a business. Your operation may be small, may be big. But you all have to think long and hard about survival of your business.

Life: Small changes I made after 3/11/2011 (disaster in Japan)

It's almost one year since the disaster in Japan in 3/11/2011(Earthquake, Tsunami and nuclear plant accident). I tried to write something about the disaster, but it turned out to be somewhat difficult emotionally. It feels like too heavy. So today I am going to write something lighter instead.

After the disaster, I made some changes in my life. They are very small changes (not counting my marriage). They are a part of my disaster awareness program.

I read about the disaster. They lost lifelines for 3-14 days, and who had gas in car had some advantage in the situation. So, I've made it a custom to keep an eye on the gas gauge, and keep the gas above 50% full. In addition, I keep some water and food that should last for at least 3 days in house, following American Red Cross' recommendation. Giving it a thought about real basic stuff like food, water, heat source (fire), toilet, shelter, medication, first aid supply, transportation, some money.....How would I handle the situation without these? It was a good exercise.

They say connection to information can be lost and leave you uninformed. Now I carry portable radio/crank flashlight in backpack. According to the people in evacuation camp, it was quite practical.

They say safe place may be difficult to find after their primary residence was destroyed. Now I thought of a few safe places I would go in case of emergency.

They say traffic can be terrible. I check out alternative routes to destination. Assuming internet, GPS and cell phones would be down, I keep a local map in the car, too.

These may sound basics. These may have been common sense. Thanks to the disaster I realized that I had neglected these preparation exercises. I don't expect Tsunami to come to my current place (very inland), but the preparation are applicable to possible regional threats like earthquake, snow storm and nearby tornado.

Maybe I should buy a helmet too, for bicycling and for weathering close-by tornado, hailstorm and fallouts from earthquake.

Obviously I am nowhere near those Doomsday survivalists. But I am glad I am prepared a little better than before.