Measuring brain pathways by tensor analysis of MRI data

MRI does it again. Using advanced mathematical analysis scientists have developed a way to take pictures of water diffusing along nerve axons. This provides a picture of how the nerves are connected or the connectome. Different pathologies will result in incorrect neural connections in the human brain. This is different from all the studies one hears about today showing which areas of the brain are active under certain conditions. This technique doesn't show directly which areas of the brain are active how they are connected.

Maintenance on a Can-Am Spyder motorcycle

Today I finally read the manual and found out how to check the fluids including oil, coolant, and brake fluid. All are easily accessible except the oil level which requires the removal of a side panel. Fortunately there are a couple of quick release things and you can bend the panel back enough to reach the filler cap without having to remove the remaining screw. The other level checks are more accessible but the levels are not easy to see. A flashlight is recommended.

Windsurfer for sale on Craigs list

My Mistral Pandera windsurfer is for sale on the MA Craigs List.

Singlehanding Downeast Maine

I just returned from three days single handing my 35 ft sailboat down east starting in South Freeport Maine stopping at the Sebasco Resort and Boothbay before returning. Lovely weather but light winds.

Hot air baloon in Kenya over Masi Mara

While cleaning my desktop I found this picture from last years safari in Kenya. We are high over Masi Mara early in the morning viewing the wildlife. After a gentle touch down we all enjoyed a champagne breakfast.

Limulus lysate testing for pyrogens in pharmaceuticals

While cleaning out some things in the basement I found this copy of the Journal of the Parenteral Drug Association that includes a lecture I gave in 1977. In this presentation I provided an overview of the Limulus (horseshoe crab blood derived test) lysate test for pyrogens (fever producing chemicals). All pharmaceuticals must be tested for these molecules that can cause fever and in some cases anaphylactic shock and death. Before the crab blood was used the test involved measuring the anal temperature of rabbits. Racks of rabbits would have temperature probes in their rear ends to see if there was a temperature increase after the pharmaceutical was injected. This chemical test was a great advance over the rabbit test although it resulted in a lot of out of work rabbits. By the way, the crabs lived through the removal of a considerable amount of their blue blood. We marked their carapaces before returning them to Barnegat Bay. We actually retrieved some the next year.

Thank you note from a Rotary Interact club

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of making a presentation on service to the Rotary Interact group of the Connecticut International Baccalaureate Academy. This school was recently voted the best magnet school in the U.S.

Afterwards I received this very nice thank you note.