We received acceptance notice for a manuscript from the journal office on 5/27/2018.
I'll write about the contents once it is published. For now, I'd just say the paper is somewhat personal. Maybe because of that, I felt very happy about the acceptance.
In the past a few days, I was working on things related to the paper and its acceptance, including preparing for final edit and correction, sending a notice for "news of acceptance of relevant publication" to granting agency, and preparing for paperwork that needs to be done before publication.
The summer student showed up and is working in the lab. Apparently he is doing fine. I am happy about it, too.
May 30, 2018
May 18, 2018
Dance: False advertisement in selling dance (?)
A few weeks ago, I had a talk with a Kizomba instructor.
It was amusing, because Kizomba dance community seems to have exact the same internal conflict as that in the Tango community.
The conflict is "Stage dance vs social dance".
His frustration was coming from his belief that he should show "authentic" Kizomba. In YouTube there are many show-oriented "Kizomba", which he knows are different from traditionally danced Kizomba, thus are adulterated versions.
When he needs to demonstrate Kizomba. he has internal conflict;
"authentic social Kizomba is not a kind of dance that moves around big and showy. But on stage I need to, otherwise I cannot connect to or appeal to the audience far away. Is it right to dance big and showy, or am I falsely presenting this dance? What I want to dance is (authentic) Kizomba, not urban Kizomba or nightclub Kizomba or whatever Kizomba they show in YouTube."
Doesn't this sound familiar, Salon-minded tango dancers?
You can present the case from the opposite side.
Think of a scene in "Dirty dancing". The "Baby" got interested in dancing after a showing of Patrick Sweyze character's Mambo routine.
Stage dance has strong appeal that captivates viewer's interest and fantasy. In many cases, people start learning a dance after watching a show and got inspired.
But what the instructors usually sell to a beginner is not a stage dance.
Let's say, you get interested in Tango after watching a show and impressed. You show up in a group Tango class. Then what you get is bunch of "basics" for milonga. You go to milonga and nobody dances like the stage show dancers, except demonstrations by Stage dance-proficient instructors. Look around, and you notice that many Salon dancers do not really have show-worthy appeal, even after years of social Tango dancing (ouch).You realize there may not be a Stage dance in this path, and feel deceived.
Is stage dance a false advertisement to sell less-appealing social version of the dance?
Certainly not.
Simply put, Social dance and Stage dance are different businesses. Although stage dance evolved out of its social version, after years, the dances became different games with different purposes.
Most group classes are for basics usable in Social settings. Of course you'll need high level "basics" for stage dance, but basics alone lack far-reaching flashiness and stage appeal, the "wow" factor.
To add "wow", there are many stage-specific moves. This is the difference between some other professional sports, where presenting high level basics alone can straightforwardly leads to score, point, or winning of the game, like baseball or football. Appearance matters less in some games.
If you want to dance a stage dance, ask instructors who dance stage dance to teach. They may have Stage dance class or would teach in private lessons. Stage dance is usually choreographed. Learn the choreographed moves. It is a shortcut.
And don't assume the Stage dance moves are leadable/followable in social dances. They usually aren't. Preparations make the use possible.
Stage dance and social dance are both a part of the dance as a whole. For instructors, easiest solution is just be able to do both. If you take a side, you might end up with vilifying the other, which is in my opinion non-productive.
There is a demand for social dance, and there are occasions stage dance is needed. Don't feel like selling your soul. Actually, I'd say, don't miss out.
It was amusing, because Kizomba dance community seems to have exact the same internal conflict as that in the Tango community.
The conflict is "Stage dance vs social dance".
His frustration was coming from his belief that he should show "authentic" Kizomba. In YouTube there are many show-oriented "Kizomba", which he knows are different from traditionally danced Kizomba, thus are adulterated versions.
When he needs to demonstrate Kizomba. he has internal conflict;
"authentic social Kizomba is not a kind of dance that moves around big and showy. But on stage I need to, otherwise I cannot connect to or appeal to the audience far away. Is it right to dance big and showy, or am I falsely presenting this dance? What I want to dance is (authentic) Kizomba, not urban Kizomba or nightclub Kizomba or whatever Kizomba they show in YouTube."
Doesn't this sound familiar, Salon-minded tango dancers?
You can present the case from the opposite side.
Think of a scene in "Dirty dancing". The "Baby" got interested in dancing after a showing of Patrick Sweyze character's Mambo routine.
Stage dance has strong appeal that captivates viewer's interest and fantasy. In many cases, people start learning a dance after watching a show and got inspired.
But what the instructors usually sell to a beginner is not a stage dance.
Let's say, you get interested in Tango after watching a show and impressed. You show up in a group Tango class. Then what you get is bunch of "basics" for milonga. You go to milonga and nobody dances like the stage show dancers, except demonstrations by Stage dance-proficient instructors. Look around, and you notice that many Salon dancers do not really have show-worthy appeal, even after years of social Tango dancing (ouch).You realize there may not be a Stage dance in this path, and feel deceived.
Is stage dance a false advertisement to sell less-appealing social version of the dance?
Certainly not.
Simply put, Social dance and Stage dance are different businesses. Although stage dance evolved out of its social version, after years, the dances became different games with different purposes.
Most group classes are for basics usable in Social settings. Of course you'll need high level "basics" for stage dance, but basics alone lack far-reaching flashiness and stage appeal, the "wow" factor.
To add "wow", there are many stage-specific moves. This is the difference between some other professional sports, where presenting high level basics alone can straightforwardly leads to score, point, or winning of the game, like baseball or football. Appearance matters less in some games.
If you want to dance a stage dance, ask instructors who dance stage dance to teach. They may have Stage dance class or would teach in private lessons. Stage dance is usually choreographed. Learn the choreographed moves. It is a shortcut.
And don't assume the Stage dance moves are leadable/followable in social dances. They usually aren't. Preparations make the use possible.
Stage dance and social dance are both a part of the dance as a whole. For instructors, easiest solution is just be able to do both. If you take a side, you might end up with vilifying the other, which is in my opinion non-productive.
There is a demand for social dance, and there are occasions stage dance is needed. Don't feel like selling your soul. Actually, I'd say, don't miss out.
May 16, 2018
Science: Prep for Summer student
It was last minute, but we are going to take a summer student for the Stephenson Cancer Center program.
The program is an 8-week course (5/21-7/13) for lab experience/training, completed with a poster presentation/competition.
Link to the website:
http://stephensoncancercenter.org/Research/ResearchEvents/CancerUndergraduateResearchProgrm.aspx
"The Stephenson Cancer Center established the Cancer Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) Program to enable outstanding undergraduate students to work alongside experienced cancer investigators to encourage their interests in and preparation for careers in cancer research and medicine'"
Not all labs have sufficient space or manpower for taking a student. For many Principal Investigators (PIs), June is one of thrice-annual deadlines for major national grants, and May-June is a busy time for grant preparation, if applying for the June cycle.
Also, training is a tricky process.
Incoming summer students are at very early stage in this career path in medicine (undergraduates). They may be passionate, but no experience of course. Usually (naturally) they know very little about the industry.
For professional development, student's passion alone doesn't do. The trainee needs to acquire specific skills for the discipline, and be able to produce results. His/her productivity is what counts to take them further.
Think musicians. Even if you are passionate about music, you need training and practice to play music, before you can play your own music and appeal to others.
Lab experiments do take some physical skills. Some are more adept at them from the beginning, others take longer time. It is just how it is.
Today I spent some time for planning and making list for reagents for his project. At this stage, training is a guided trip for what we do in the lab. To travel with novice, the guide needs some prep, too.
The project itself should yield something interesting for me as well. If he can channel his "passion" to productivity and interesting results, that is great.
At this moment I am not sure if he is well-prepared. We know where they likely are now. Let's see how it goes, hoping for the best. ....This is much shared sentiment among mentors of this program.
Personally, I like "win-win" situation, and I don't like wasted efforts. Since my policy for authorship is "making contribution that appeared as a Figure in the manuscript", previous students, research assistants, postdocs and volunteers who worked with me and generated key results that appeared as a figure in the manuscript have gotten authorship in the paper. It is much easier for me to recommend someone with tangible results.
For publication, certainly there is some luck involved. But I'd rather be prepared for the better outcomes.
The program is an 8-week course (5/21-7/13) for lab experience/training, completed with a poster presentation/competition.
Link to the website:
http://stephensoncancercenter.org/Research/ResearchEvents/CancerUndergraduateResearchProgrm.aspx
"The Stephenson Cancer Center established the Cancer Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) Program to enable outstanding undergraduate students to work alongside experienced cancer investigators to encourage their interests in and preparation for careers in cancer research and medicine'"
Not all labs have sufficient space or manpower for taking a student. For many Principal Investigators (PIs), June is one of thrice-annual deadlines for major national grants, and May-June is a busy time for grant preparation, if applying for the June cycle.
Also, training is a tricky process.
Incoming summer students are at very early stage in this career path in medicine (undergraduates). They may be passionate, but no experience of course. Usually (naturally) they know very little about the industry.
For professional development, student's passion alone doesn't do. The trainee needs to acquire specific skills for the discipline, and be able to produce results. His/her productivity is what counts to take them further.
Think musicians. Even if you are passionate about music, you need training and practice to play music, before you can play your own music and appeal to others.
Lab experiments do take some physical skills. Some are more adept at them from the beginning, others take longer time. It is just how it is.
Today I spent some time for planning and making list for reagents for his project. At this stage, training is a guided trip for what we do in the lab. To travel with novice, the guide needs some prep, too.
The project itself should yield something interesting for me as well. If he can channel his "passion" to productivity and interesting results, that is great.
At this moment I am not sure if he is well-prepared. We know where they likely are now. Let's see how it goes, hoping for the best. ....This is much shared sentiment among mentors of this program.
Personally, I like "win-win" situation, and I don't like wasted efforts. Since my policy for authorship is "making contribution that appeared as a Figure in the manuscript", previous students, research assistants, postdocs and volunteers who worked with me and generated key results that appeared as a figure in the manuscript have gotten authorship in the paper. It is much easier for me to recommend someone with tangible results.
For publication, certainly there is some luck involved. But I'd rather be prepared for the better outcomes.
May 10, 2018
Science: NCI designation of Stephenson Cancer Center
On 5/2/18, Stephenson Cancer Center announced its new status as National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Cancer Center.
[link to the announcement]
http://stephensoncancercenter.org/News/Article/TabId/6745/ArtMID/17400/ArticleID/5878/Stephenson-Cancer-Center-Earns-Prestigious-National-Cancer-Institute-Designation.aspx
There are about 3500 cancer centers in the US. But the NCI-designation status is given only to about 70 cancer centers that meet several criteria for excellence, such as extramural funding for research, activities in clinical trials, leadership in the community, etc. The designation places the Stephenson Cancer Center among top 2% elite cancer centers in the US.
I heard the news about a month ago internally, with some lecture on how difficult it was to get here. The standard for excellence was not exactly fixed goals, but they were like moving targets. The NCI raised bar on some occasions.
On 5/4 Friday they had celebration, distributing t-sheets and food truck vouchers.
I was working on re-submission process for a revised research manuscript and did not attend the celebration. But it was fine. I was happier when the revised manuscript went out.
Anyway, the NCI designation was a big deal for us and for the state. I am glad.
One of my projects has come to an interesting phase.
Scientific research is a unique job. It can transform current medicine and practices in the clinic. To think about the "future medicine" is exciting.
There are some different directions we can develop this project to. Time to do research, talk with potential collaborators, and think hard.
[link to the announcement]
http://stephensoncancercenter.org/News/Article/TabId/6745/ArtMID/17400/ArticleID/5878/Stephenson-Cancer-Center-Earns-Prestigious-National-Cancer-Institute-Designation.aspx
There are about 3500 cancer centers in the US. But the NCI-designation status is given only to about 70 cancer centers that meet several criteria for excellence, such as extramural funding for research, activities in clinical trials, leadership in the community, etc. The designation places the Stephenson Cancer Center among top 2% elite cancer centers in the US.
I heard the news about a month ago internally, with some lecture on how difficult it was to get here. The standard for excellence was not exactly fixed goals, but they were like moving targets. The NCI raised bar on some occasions.
On 5/4 Friday they had celebration, distributing t-sheets and food truck vouchers.
I was working on re-submission process for a revised research manuscript and did not attend the celebration. But it was fine. I was happier when the revised manuscript went out.
Anyway, the NCI designation was a big deal for us and for the state. I am glad.
One of my projects has come to an interesting phase.
Scientific research is a unique job. It can transform current medicine and practices in the clinic. To think about the "future medicine" is exciting.
There are some different directions we can develop this project to. Time to do research, talk with potential collaborators, and think hard.
May 2, 2018
Life: Tea time with "firefly" cup
I have been working on a research manuscript for revision.
The review came back about two weeks ago. Although busy for his finals exams, my graduate research assistant produced sample sets for the analyses needed for the revision. (Much appreciated.) Data were acquired, and writing is ongoing.
While writing, I consume a lot of tea. I try all kind; Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Green, Oolong, White, Black, Puh-er, Matcha, Gyokuro, etc.
For some reason, recently I felt like updating my tea cups, and bought some.
One of those new purchase was this Chinese cup, made in Jingdezhen (景徳鎮), a city in China famous for production of porcelain.
Somehow the visual with translucent windows was particularly appealing when I was searching for some cups. Maybe because it's getting warmer and I was seeking something for hotter season?
Sometimes we do something first, then look for the reasons.
The style is called "Hotaru yaki" ("firefly") in Japan. Nice to have something different.
The review came back about two weeks ago. Although busy for his finals exams, my graduate research assistant produced sample sets for the analyses needed for the revision. (Much appreciated.) Data were acquired, and writing is ongoing.
While writing, I consume a lot of tea. I try all kind; Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Green, Oolong, White, Black, Puh-er, Matcha, Gyokuro, etc.
For some reason, recently I felt like updating my tea cups, and bought some.
One of those new purchase was this Chinese cup, made in Jingdezhen (景徳鎮), a city in China famous for production of porcelain.
Somehow the visual with translucent windows was particularly appealing when I was searching for some cups. Maybe because it's getting warmer and I was seeking something for hotter season?
Sometimes we do something first, then look for the reasons.
The style is called "Hotaru yaki" ("firefly") in Japan. Nice to have something different.
[with Jasmine tea]
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