Stepping Stones ...

Baby got passport on 8 Nov 2011

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 22:15:29 +0000

2007-2009 residency status

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:51:56 +0000

Big step:
Got letter from GARDA and confirmed my working residency in 2007-20009, which is important for kid’s passport and my total residency dates here.

Langer's Lab

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:09:04 +0100

Langer's Lab

Karp's Lab

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:04:33 +0100

Karp's Lab

Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:04:02 +0100

Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology

easy plate centrifuge setup

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 00:55:51 +0100

easy plate centrifuge setup

Grant writing tips from Morgan Giddings

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:21:15 +0100

Grant writing tips from Morgan Giddings

academic career help resource-MIT

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 21:34:58 +0100

academic career help resource-MIT

Netherlands Institute of Regenerative Medicine (NIRM)

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 20:24:01 +0100

Netherlands Institute of Regenerative Medicine (NIRM):

The Netherlands Institute for Regenerative Medicine (NIRM), is an innovative and integrative life sciences research and development program. It is comprised of two formerly existing research consortia in The Netherlands: Stem Cells in Development and Disease (SCDD) and the Dutch Program for Tissue Engineering (DPTE). Integration of these consortia in NIRM combines cutting-edge research in stem cell biology with advances in tissue engineering, so as to improve existing and create novel regenerative medical treatments. Together, these biomedical research fields involving cells and biomaterials will lead to innovative approaches to promote the regeneration of damaged or diseased tissues and organs. NIRM focuses its research on five major tissue/disease areas: Cardiovascular System, Muscles and Bones, Blood, Nervous System and Internal Medicine. NIRM research begins at the level of molecules, from which important molecular genetic and epigenetic programs lead to the generation and function of stem cells that are the biological unit of the specific adult tissues. Stem cell maintenance and differentiation is, in turn, dependent upon the surrounding cells and biomolecules of the microenvironment or niche. Together, these are the basic elements that lead to the formation of the complete tissue. In disease and/or trauma some elements are defective or damaged. Hence, this program aims to: Identify and characterize the stem cells and biomolecules contributing to normal tissue organization and function Characterize the levels at which tissues become diseased or damaged Establish and test novel tissue repair and regeneration strategies and methodologies from gained knowledge and insights.

SFI Starting Investigator Research Grant (SIRG) Programme

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:50:02 +0100

SFI Starting Investigator Research Grant (SIRG) Programme:

SFI Starting Investigator Research Grant (SIRG) Programme Call Open (Deadline for Proposals: 31 August, 2011) The SFI Starting Investigator Research Grant (SIRG) Programme provides an opportunity for excellent early-career-stage investigators to carry out independent research in the fields of science and engineering that underpin biotechnology, information and communications technology, and sustainable energy and energy-efficient technologies. The award also provides funding for a postgraduate student, who will be primarily supervised by the Starting Investigator (SI). The SI will work with an associated mentor, who will provide the necessary support and infrastructure for the project to take place. SIRG awards are of €400,000 direct costs for a period of four years; 18 awards are expected to be funded through this Call, which is partly funded through the Marie Curie COFUND Programme. Transnational mobility is a new objective of the SIRG programme. Consequently, a significant number of awards in this Call will be offered to “transnational applicants”. Objectives of the SIRG Programme To enable those at an early career stage to establish themselves as independent researchers; To provide the support and infrastructure to carry out novel research in areas that underpin biotechnology, information and communications technology, and sustainable energy and energy-efficient technologies; To gain important experience towards a full-time academic position, including the supervision of the postgraduate student supported by the award; To enable the award holder, together with his/her postgraduate student, to carry out their work in Ireland’s public research bodies, including Universities and Institutes of Technology; To offer funding opportunities that help third-level institutions attract and develop researchers and their careers; To allow early-career investigators of all nationalities to enhance their experience in Irish HEIs; To allow early-career investigators who have been employed outside of Ireland to return to work in an Irish HEI. Eligibility criteria of the Applicant The SI applicant must: Have at least three years, but not more than eight years of relevant research experience beyond the PhD, MD, or equivalent (an equivalent qualification and/or demonstrated research accomplishments may be accepted in exceptional circumstances and must be approved in advance by SFI). Allowances will be made for documented leave, including maternity leave, paternity leave, parental leave, military service, sick/disability leave, and carer’s leave. The applicant must demonstrate a proven record of internationally recognised independent research accomplishments. The applicant must be senior author (first, last or corresponding) on at least 3 articles in international peer-reviewed publications AND be a named author on an average of at least 1 international peer-reviewed publication per year since the award of the PhD (or equivalent). The applicant must not hold or have held a significant, independent research award of greater than one-year duration. In addition, this previous award must not have had a total value in excess of €100,000 (or equivalent) direct costs. Personal awards, including student and postdoctoral fellowships, travel awards, and bursaries of greater than one-year duration are permissible. The applicant must not hold a faculty position at the time of application or at the start of the award. The SI must have an identified mentor, who has agreed to allow the SI and postgraduate student to carry out research within their laboratory space for the duration of the award. The Research Body must confirm that the SI applicant meets the above criteria and must also provide assurance that the space and infrastructure to carry out the proposed research are available for the duration of the award. Definition of National and Transnational Applicants A ‘transnational applicant’ will be a researcher of any nationality (including Irish) who has not resided in Ireland for more than a total of 12 months in the three years prior to the call deadline. All other eligible candidates, regardless of their nationality, will be considered as ‘national applicants’. Research Bodies will be required to submit a list of approved applicants to SFI, which will be made up of approximately two-thirds transnational applicants and one-third national applicants; for full details please refer to the call document.

声音，语言

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:02:29 +0100

学语言，第一要务是打通耳朵

一个幼儿在他开口前，已经默默听了一年多。有一句话，10聋9哑，就是说，首先要听，才能学会说。我们的英语听力不行，要口语好，是绝无可能的。语感的形成，要靠我们对声音的敏感。

声音就是空中飞翔的鸟，有语音、有语调、有情感、有灵魂，一会儿就消失在空中。文字就像固定在纸上的鸟的标本，没有灵魂，没有情感，不会消失。如果你能抓住空中飞翔的活生生的鸟，你还抓不住固定在纸上鸟的标本吗？为什么我们的阅读能力好而听力差，是因为文字固定在纸上，不会消失，而声音就像小鸟一样很快就消失在空气中。所以声音的输入，是学习一门语言的第一要务，不管是母语还是第二外语。

但是第二外语的声音输入，却要注意几个问题。因为对大多数人而言，听不懂的东西就是噪音，看不懂的东西就是垃圾。所以在输入声音时，要么让学生明白声音的意义，要么让这声音有旋律和节奏，琅琅上口。

人要活好四个度：长度、厚度、宽度和深度

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 15:55:05 +0100

长度是人的寿命，谁也无法决定长短；厚度是人的为人，要敦厚老实；宽度是人的肚量，要有广阔的胸怀；深度是人的能量，社会活动能量、精神的能量。

阅读文献

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 10:17:39 +0100

摘自－emuch《三大牛人看外国文献的方法》

牛人三
本人英语基础不好，没过六级，所以在硕士的时候基本上看的外文文献很少，现在想想很后悔，2 年的时间少学了很多东西。上了博士，自己给自己的定位也高一些了，开始打算硬着头皮咬着牙很不情愿的也要多看些外文文献，一开始看比较慢，有些很难理解，到现在大约仔细阅读了100 篇外文文献，泛读了100 篇外文文章，受益匪浅，现在基本不怎么看中文的了，确实也觉得外文的质量就是高（也有凑数的烂文章），现在自己写外文的也很顺手了。谈几点自己的体会。我是材料专业的。
1.先找5 篇跟自己论文最相关的外文文章，花一个月的时间认认真真的看，反复看，要求全部读懂，不懂的地方可以和同学和老师交流一下。一个月以后你已经上路了。
2.如何读标题：不要忽视一篇论文的标题，看完标题以后想想要是让你写你怎么用一句话来表达这个标题，根据标题推测一下作者论文可能是什么内容。有时候一句比较长的标题让你写，你可能还不会表达。下次你写的时候就可以借鉴了
3. 如何读摘要：快速浏览一遍，这里主要介绍这篇文章做了些什么。也许初看起来不好理解，看不懂，这时候不要气馁，不管它往下看，等你看完这篇文章的时候也许你都明白了。因为摘要写的很简洁，省略了很多前提和条件，在你第一眼看到摘要而不明白作者意图的时候看不懂是正常的。
4.如何读引言（前言）：当你了解了你的研究领域的一些情况，看引言应该是一件很容易的事情了，都是介绍性的东西，写的应该都差不多，所以看文献多了以后看这部分的内容就很快了，一扫而过。有些老外写得很经典得句子要记下了，下次你写就可以用了。
5.如何读材料及试验：当你文献看多了以后，这部分内容也很简单了，无非就是介绍试验方法，自己怎么做试验的。很快就能把它看完了吧
6.如何看试验结果：看结果这部分一定要结合结果中的图和表看，这样看的快。主要看懂试验的结果，体会作者的表达方法（例如作者用不同的句子结构描述一些数字的结果）。有时看完以后再想想：就这么一点结果，别人居然可以大篇幅的写这么多，要是我可能半页就说完了？
7. 如何看分析与讨论：这是一篇文章的重点，也是最花时间的。我一般把前面部分看完以后不急于看分析讨论。我会想要是我做出来这些结果我会怎么来写这部分分析与讨论呢？然后慢慢看作者的分析与讨论，仔细体会作者观点，为我所用。当然有时候别人的观点比较新，分析比较深刻，偶尔看不懂也是情理之中。当你看的多了，你肯定会看的越来越懂，自己的idea 越来越多
8.如何看结论：这个时候看结论就一目了然了，作后再反过去看看摘要，其实差不多
9.把下载的论文打印出来，根据与自己课题的相关性分三类，一类要精读，二类要泛读，三类要选择性的读。分别装订在一起
10.看完的文献千万不要丢在一边不管，3－4 个月一定要温习一遍，可以根据需要，对比自己的试验结果来看
11.学会记笔记，重要的结论，经典的句子，精巧的试验方案一定要记下来，供参考和学习
12.有些试验方法相同，结论不同的文献，可以批判性的阅读。我想要是你自己做试验多的话，你应该有这个能力判断谁的更对一点。出现试验方法相同，结论不同的原因有下：试验方法描述不详细，可能方法有差别；试验条件不一样；某些作者夸大结果，瞎编数据
13.有时间还是多看点文献吧，最好定个目标：在学术上超过自己的老板。因为老板一般不看文献，他们都是凭经验做事，很多新东西他们都不知道，慢慢的你老板会觉得你很厉害。反正我觉得多读了，读起来就快了，而且也会慢慢喜欢上看外文文献，收获自然也就多了。
算起来从05 年读研开始到现在也快三年的时间了。在这段时间里，实验做得不是很多，文献倒是读了不少。原因呢，可能是老板也发现了我这个人属于那种眼高手低的人，干脆就让我做个文献阅读器了。从研一到现在每当老板脑子里出来一个想法，出来几个关键词，好了，下一步的工作就是交给我查阅和整理文献了。大家有空可以看看我发在论坛里的几个ppt，关于光催化、无铅压电陶瓷，微波介质陶瓷，纳米ZnO，此外关于Raman 光谱、多铁性材料。。。算起来前前后后看过——当然只能说看过，因为大部分都只是走马观花，没有精读——的文献应该不下三四百篇了。我估计每个方向单拿出来写个中文综述都差不多够了，可惜中文要版面费，想来老板也不会给出说了这么多废话，进入正题吧。有人也许会问，你是怎么看文献的，特别是一个以前没有接触的陌生领域。我的方法是，先看中文综述，然后是中文博士论文，而后是英文综述，最后是英文期刊文献。这样做的好处是，通过中文综述，你可以首先了解这行的基本名词，基本参量和常用的制备、表征方法。
我觉得这点很重要，因为如果直接英文上手的话，一些基本名词如果简单的想当然的翻译，往往会将你引入误区或造成歧义。同时中文综述里要包含了大量的英文参考文献，这就为后续的查找文献打下一个基础。
中文博士论文，特别是最近几年的，其第一章前言或是绪论所包含的信息量往往大于一篇综述的。因为它会更加详细的介绍该领域的背景以及相关理论知识，同时里面往往会提到国内外在本领域做得比较好的几个科研小组的相关研究方向。通过阅读就可以更清楚理清一个脉络。

英文综述，特别是那种invited paper 或是发表在高if 期刊上的，往往都是本领域的牛人们写的。对此要精读，要分析其文章的构架，特别要关于作者对各个方向的优缺点的评价以及对缺点的改进和展望。通过精读一篇好的英文综述，所获得的不只是对本领域现在发展状况的了解，同时也可以学会很多地道的英文表达。最后就是针对自己的课题查找阅读相关英文文献了。现在各大学图书馆里面的数据库都比较全，即使没有也可以通过网络上多种手段获取文献了。所以说文献的获取不是问题，问题在于查什么样的文献和怎么具体阅读整理文献。根据我的体会，我觉得有以下四类英文文献是我们所需要的：
1.本领域核心期刊的文献。不同的研究方向有不同的核心期刊，这里也不能一概唯if 论了。比如说陶瓷类的核心期刊美陶的IF 也不过1.5 几，但上面的文章特别是feature artical 还是值得仔细阅读的。当然，首先你要了解所研究的核心期刊有哪些，这个就要靠学长、老板或者网上战友的互相帮助了。
2.本领域牛人或者主要课题组的文献。每个领域都有几个所谓的领军人物，他们所从事的方向往往代表目前的发展主流。因此阅读这些组里的文献就可以把握目前的研究重点。这里有人可能要问，我怎么知道谁是牛人呢？这里我个人有两个小方法。第一是在ISI 检索本领域的关键词，不要太多，这样你会查到很多文献，而后利用ISI 的refine 功能，就可以看到哪位作者发表的论文数量比较多，原则上一般发表论文数量较多的人和课题组就是这行里比较主要的了。还有一个方法，就是首先要了解本领域有哪些比较规模大型的国际会议，而后登陆会议主办者的网站一般都能看到关于会议的invited speaker的名字，做为邀请报告的报告人一般来说都是在该行有头有脸的人物了，呵呵
3.高引用次数的文章。一般来说高引用次数（如果不是靠自引堆上去的话）文章都是比较经典的文章，要么思路比较好，要么材料性能比较好，同时其文笔应该也不赖的话。多读这样的文章，体会作者对文章结构的把握和图表分析的处理，相信可以从中领悟很多东西的。
4.最后就是当你有了一定背景知识，开始做实验并准备写论文的时候需要看的文献了。我个人的经验是，首先要明确一点，你所做的实验想解决什么问题？是对原有材料的改进还是创造一种新的材料或者是新的制备方法，还是采用新的表征手段或是计算方法。明确这一点后，就可以有的放矢查找你需要的文献了。而且往往当你找到一篇与你研究方向相近的文章后，通过ISI 的反查，你可以找到引用它的文献和它引用的文献，从而建立一个文献树，更多的获取信息量。
此外，我想提到的一点就是关于文献的整理。很多时候大家下文献都是很盲目，抱着一种先下来再说的思想。往往下来的文献不少，但只是空占者磁盘空间。不经过整理归类的文献就不是自己的文献，那根据什么来分类呢？
我有一个比较简单实用的方法，适用于那些拥有大量未读文献的。就是只关心三点：文章的前言的最后一部分（一般这部分都是提出作者为什么要进行这项工作，依据和方法），文章中的图表（提出采用的表征方法以及性能变化）和结论（是否实现了既定目标以及是否需要改进）。当然，如果全部精读相信工作量也不小。我的看法是尽可能用50 个字左右来归纳文章，说白了就是文章的目的（如改进某个性能或提出某种方法）＋表征手段（如XRD，IR，TEM 等）＋主要结论（如产物的性能）。当你按照这个方法归纳整理几十篇文献后，自然会有一个大致的了解，而后再根据你的笔记将文献分类整理，当你在写论文需要解释引用时再回头精读，我觉得这样会提高效率不少。

video of stem cells and regenerative medicine

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:35:03 +0100

video of stem cells and regenerative medicine

Orthopedic regenerative medicine: Prolotherapy, platelet-rich plasma, stem cell trasplantation

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 01:57:03 +0100

You and Your Health - Topic: Orthopedic Regenerative Medicine (Part1)
http://vimeo.com/26964428

You and Your Health - Topic: Orthopedic Regenerative Medicine (Part2)
http://vimeo.com/26974032

Audio

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 18:21:52 +0100

Perfect Moment is track 1 from Quiet Days by Brendan...

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 18:18:39 +0100

Perfect Moment is track 1 from Quiet Days by Brendan O’Neil and is part of the Ambiente music series.

Buy the Quiet Days CD album from NorthStar Music

MP3 Downloads available from Amazon & iTunes

Lifestyle Music from NorthStar Music

Sunset Dreams is track 3 from Quiet Days by Brendan O’Neil...

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 18:16:35 +0100

Sunset Dreams is track 3 from Quiet Days by Brendan O’Neil and is part of the Ambiente music series.

Buy the Quiet Days CD album from NorthStar Music

MP3 Downloads available from Amazon & iTunes

Lifestyle Music from NorthStar Music

http://soundcloud.com/lorenzo_dj

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 18:04:30 +0100

http://soundcloud.com/lorenzo_dj

Inspired by todays upcomming total lunar eclipse (15.06.2011),...

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 17:58:24 +0100

Inspired by todays upcomming total lunar eclipse (15.06.2011), http://eclipsegeeks.com/MapTotalLunarEclipse15June2011.aspx - i did this little Preview.

It´s far away from ready but you can feel the atmosphere! Hope you like it!