Cleistos's recent activity
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Comment on Chef knife recommendations? in ~food
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Comment on What's the big deal about running a half marathon? in ~life
Cleistos LinkRunning for an extended amount of time is hard. Even when I was truly in shape in my youth, there was a great deal of mental fortitude needed to push through several miles. My wife and I are in...Running for an extended amount of time is hard. Even when I was truly in shape in my youth, there was a great deal of mental fortitude needed to push through several miles. My wife and I are in our 30s. My wife has been getting excited about running 5Ks after she spent a few months getting back into running after pretty much not running since she was a teenager.
After she did a few 5Ks she asked me if I do one with her. I too haven't ran with any consistency since I was a teenager, but I agreed. I did a true couch to 5K, no training prep before the race. At the start, I kept up well, but I was ready to start walking after about 200 meters. I alternated walking and running for the rest of the race. My wife absolutely smoked me.
I was proud of her for killing it, and I was proud of myself for finishing the race. With every lap, I wanted to so badly bail, but I didn't. That to me is what makes long distance running such a big deal to people that do it. You're body is getting tired, and your brain is telling you to stop, but you will through it. When you finish you feel like champion of your own mind and body.
You don't have to get it, though. It's okay to not be into something. It's okay to explicitly say so as well. "Honey, I don't really understand this goal, but I am 100% behind you all the way." I'm sure you do things your wife doesn't "get" either.
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Comment on Meet Your Tildes Neighbour: August 2023 Edition in ~talk
Cleistos Link ParentGreat question! Believe it or not, I haven't looked too hard at microscopy jobs, but I should be. I live in GA and have a near-zero desire to live or work in Atlanta. Some places I'd like to end...Great question! Believe it or not, I haven't looked too hard at microscopy jobs, but I should be. I live in GA and have a near-zero desire to live or work in Atlanta. Some places I'd like to end up do have a great biotech industry, so that's still good news for me. I'll start looking in earnest once I reach candidacy later this year.
What do you do now?
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Comment on Meet Your Tildes Neighbour: August 2023 Edition in ~talk
Cleistos LinkI am a fungal cell biologist currently working on attaining a Ph.D. I spend most of my days cloning and taking fluorescent images of the rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae. Here is an image I...I am a fungal cell biologist currently working on attaining a Ph.D. I spend most of my days cloning and taking fluorescent images of the rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae. Here is an image I have captured of one of M. oryzae's asexual spores that has already germinated and begun forming what is called an appressorium (the rounded structure on the right, which will lead to rice cell penetration): https://b.l3n.co/i/VVpBUM.png. The green color is a green fluorescent protein (GFP) labeled microtubules, and the false magenta coloring is mCherry labeled DNA. The striking bright GFP signal between two signals of mCherry is the mitotic spindle. One of the dividing nuclei will end up in the appressorial cell. Once nucleated, this structure generates enormous turgor pressure and develops a penetration peg that will infiltrate healthy plant cells.
I love getting to capture images of things we were never really "meant" to see. I don't really see myself as a good scientist, but I do have a knack for capturing remarkable and unexpected cellular events under the microscope. Whether I make it out of my PhD training with a degree or not, I hope I inspire people to remain curious about the world and to show that slowing down and staring at something for a long time might reveal a beauty you could have never imagined.
Ask me anything about my work, about microscopy, you know.... whatever!
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Comment on $5 billion Google lawsuit over ‘Incognito mode’ tracking moves a step closer to trial in ~tech
Cleistos LinkIncognito mode, whether Google or Firefox is just a shortcut to reduce website cookie tracking and no history footprint in my browser history. I have no expectation that the browser isn't tracking...Incognito mode, whether Google or Firefox is just a shortcut to reduce website cookie tracking and no history footprint in my browser history. I have no expectation that the browser isn't tracking my activity. I combine my incognito mode with Mullvad VPN. This brings me a feeling of anonymous browsing. Are there other things that can contribute to anonymous browsing?
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Comment on How did you decide about marriage? in ~talk
Cleistos Link ParentHey! Thank you for your thoughtful rebuttal. I made a deliberately strong opinion statement, but I completely understand your situation. The appropriateness of an ultimatum is circumstantial....Hey! Thank you for your thoughtful rebuttal.
I made a deliberately strong opinion statement, but I completely understand your situation. The appropriateness of an ultimatum is circumstantial. Wanting strong evidence for commitment is one thing, but "If you don't do this, then I will find someone that will" is another. People are learning that marriage should not be a surprise; the proposal should be a surprise. Ideally, several discussions about marriage should have come up before the proposal.
I cannot fault anyone for giving or following through (on either side) with a reckless ultimatum. Finding a significant other is such a personal and vulnerable process. We like to hold onto what we have.
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Comment on This Is Water! by David Foster Wallace in ~health.mental
Cleistos Link ParentI completely agree that this speech in written form is incredible, but I'd like to play a little devil's advocate. His delivery of this speech seems intentional to me. Life is generally mundane,...I completely agree that this speech in written form is incredible, but I'd like to play a little devil's advocate. His delivery of this speech seems intentional to me. Life is generally mundane, and you are all sitting through this agonizing speech to get on with the rest of your life. I can be convinced otherwise, but for a man that carefully chooses his words, sentence structure, and punctuation, I can't help but believe it was deliberate.
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Comment on This Is Water! by David Foster Wallace in ~health.mental
Cleistos LinkA friend introduced me to David Foster Wallace during my last year of college. This speech gave me a renewed, less judgemental outlook on life. I began to practice, Don't attribute to malice what...A friend introduced me to David Foster Wallace during my last year of college. This speech gave me a renewed, less judgemental outlook on life. I began to practice, Don't attribute to malice what can be attributed to anything else. I became anti-solipsism. Things aren't happening to me. We're all in line together, the cashier is working the 3rd shift at their 3rd job for the day, and the customer struggling to process the transaction has been awake for three days caring for their very sick child. I take a deep breath and relax because this will be day in and day out. I'm kinder to myself and to others thanks to these words by DFW.
After I finish graduate school, Infinite Jest is first on my non-academic reading list.
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Comment on How did you decide about marriage? in ~talk
Cleistos LinkI'm writing on mobile, so this will be short. I was deeply in love during our first year together, but we dated for 7 years because of me. I loved my now wife and still do, but I hated the idea of...I'm writing on mobile, so this will be short. I was deeply in love during our first year together, but we dated for 7 years because of me.
I loved my now wife and still do, but I hated the idea of marriage because of how I viewed my parent's marriage. It was a chain and shackle that locked otherwise sensible people into a bad deal. Why involve the church (if you're religious) and/or government in a personal matter? Further, after 7 years, why does the church or government bring you more security than my faithfulness to you all these years?
My short answer to these two questions is Disney. They were taught a happy romantic relationship ends in a Disney marriage. Sure, religion compounds this notion, but in my case, my wife and I are atheists.
So why did I propose?
Simple. I love my wife. It was a dream of hers, and I was indifferent. It was just another romantic gift to me. She knew how I felt about marriage and still stuck with me for 7 years. We were and still are each other's person.Opinion:
I'd argue that if your sig other is giving an ultimatum for marriage, then things could be on a doomed path. To me, this kind of thinking suggests they desire the idea more than they desire you. -
Comment on IAMA 3rd year Ph.D. student researching the cell biology of the Rice Blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae, and preparing for my candidacy qualifying exam. AMA. in ~talk
Cleistos Link ParentI'm finally getting back around to answering questions again. It's been a hell of a couple of weeks in the lab. Well, I've passed the written portion already, but I still have my oral exam. I'm...I'm finally getting back around to answering questions again. It's been a hell of a couple of weeks in the lab.
Well, I've passed the written portion already, but I still have my oral exam. I'm feeling better having half the process finished. A friend in my program reminded me the fear is manufactured, but that doesn't take away from the idea the past 3 years can be for nothing if I fail.
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Comment on IAMA 3rd year Ph.D. student researching the cell biology of the Rice Blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae, and preparing for my candidacy qualifying exam. AMA. in ~talk
Cleistos Link ParentI'm finally getting back around to answering questions again. It's been a hell of a couple of weeks in the lab. My QE format is written exams from each of my committee members (passed), and an...I'm finally getting back around to answering questions again. It's been a hell of a couple of weeks in the lab.
My QE format is written exams from each of my committee members (passed), and an oral exam within 6 months of passing the writtens. The oral exam consists of an oral presentation of a written research proposal followed by 2-3 hours of questioning. I'm so ready to be past it so I can get on with my work. The idea that failure at this point means the last 3 years have been for naught is absolutely terrifying.
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Comment on IAMA 3rd year Ph.D. student researching the cell biology of the Rice Blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae, and preparing for my candidacy qualifying exam. AMA. in ~talk
Cleistos Link ParentAnswers: The current best approach is the use of Azoxystrobin. Its mode of action inhibits the electron transport chain. The purpose of the electron train is to create a proton gradient of high H+...Answers:
- The current best approach is the use of Azoxystrobin. Its mode of action inhibits the electron transport chain. The purpose of the electron train is to create a proton gradient of high H+ outside of the mitochondria which is used by ATP synthase to produce ATP for the cell. ATP is the energy currency of the cell, so inhibiting this process essentially starves the cell of energy.
- The short answer is yes. There is even differing infection rates of different cultivars of the same species. Cultivars are plants that have been selected for specific traits. When we do plant inoculations, we use a highly blast fungus sensitive cultivar and highly resistant cultivar as experimental controls.
- Full disclosure, I am not a field biologist working with rice blast. Optimal laboratory temperatures are around 25-30 degrees celsius and sporulation is best when humidity is greater than 90%. Soils high in nitrogen and plants dealing with drought stress is prime time for rice blast.
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Comment on IAMA 3rd year Ph.D. student researching the cell biology of the Rice Blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae, and preparing for my candidacy qualifying exam. AMA. in ~talk
Cleistos Link ParentI am a huge fan of Last of Us, the game and tv adaptation. There would need to be a large leap for Cordyceps to adapt to humans. To this date, mycologist have not found something like the "zombie...I am a huge fan of Last of Us, the game and tv adaptation. There would need to be a large leap for Cordyceps to adapt to humans. To this date, mycologist have not found something like the "zombie ant fungus" in fish, amphibians, or mammals. I don't expect a fungal apocalypse to be anything like zombification. We do get infected by fungi, and infections and deaths are on the rise, but these are generally limited to immunocompromised people. Only a few fungi are capable of surviving our high body temperatures, and even of those depend on a sick immune system to take hold.
So as for apocalypse level scary, I think bacteria still hold the reigns for most likely to wipe us out, behind of course, us wiping us out.
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Comment on IAMA 3rd year Ph.D. student researching the cell biology of the Rice Blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae, and preparing for my candidacy qualifying exam. AMA. in ~talk
Cleistos (edited )Link ParentFungi and animals are more closely related to each other than either are to plants. The motor proteins found in fungi are the same as the motor proteins in animals (though fungi tend to have fewer...Fungi and animals are more closely related to each other than either are to plants. The motor proteins found in fungi are the same as the motor proteins in animals (though fungi tend to have fewer copies and are even missing some that are found in animals). My recent work has found motor protein inhibitors that work superbly in animals systems, do not work in fungi (and vice versa). There is also great variability in the amino acid sequences of the same proteins within fungi, suggesting drug specificity could even be fungal species specific. This is exciting news to me, because I previously did work on azole resistance development in Aspergillus fumigatus. Azoles are used in the clinic and in the agricultural setting to fight human and crop pathogenic fungi, which has led to people acquiring azole resistant fungal infections without ever being treated with the fungicide. The disconnect between the specificity of these motor inhibiting drugs suggests there is a diminished concern a similar issue could arise from the use of fungal motor specific drugs. Confirmation of drugs used to control M. oryzae are specific to M. oryzae and not to human fungal pathogens will be an important step in future fungicide development.
EDIT: I had just posted this topic and was about start a microscopy session. See bold corrections!
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IAMA 3rd year Ph.D. student researching the cell biology of the Rice Blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae, and preparing for my candidacy qualifying exam. AMA.
Hi Tilders! I am new here, but my experience with the community thus far has encouraged me to post an AMA. I've specifically decided to post this AMA in ~talk rather than ~science for more...
Hi Tilders! I am new here, but my experience with the community thus far has encouraged me to post an AMA. I've specifically decided to post this AMA in ~talk rather than ~science for more exposure, and because I am hoping to field questions ranging from scientifically well-read to less-read, technical to curious, why care to who cares, and everything in between.
I won't be posting "verifying proof", because like many of you, I love my anonymity here. However, I will include peer-reviewed citations to question answers when I feel it necessary. I will do my best to share free-access articles, but this won't always be possible. If I link an article of interest to you that is paid-access, message me; maybe, I may be able to get a copy to you. Also, please be patient for my replies. Even though it is summer where I am, I am still busy in the lab and thoughtful responses take time.
Here is a brief background on the Rice Blast fungus to help get the conversation started:
Rice is an important staple food consumed by nearly half of the global population Khush. 2005. From 10 - 30% of the annual rice harvest is lost to disease caused by Magnaporthe oryzae, which is enough rice to feed greater than 60 million people Skamnioti and Gurr. 2009. To cause infection, a three-celled asexual spore called a conidium attaches to the rice plant's leaves, stems, and even roots. Once attached, a germ tube emerges from one of the three cells and grows along the surface of the plant. Hydrophobic molecules on the plant surface, called hydrophobins, induce a developmental change in the growing germ tube. The growing germ tube tip begins to form a dome-shaped structure called the appressorium. This specialized structure swells and generates up to 80 Mpa of pressure, enough to penetrate kevlar. A penetration peg penetrates the plant cell tissue, and bulbous invasive hyphae colonize the plant cell tissue. The fungus keeps the invaded plant cell alive, while it consumes its nutrients, with the plant cell dying only when the invading growth moves to an adjacent cell Cruz-Mireles et al. 2021. Schematic.
The Rice Blast research community focuses on all stages of its development. My work is focused on nuclear division during different developmental stages, and I am specifically working on understanding which and how motor proteins are involved in nuclear division in this fungus. Understanding the nuclear dynamics and the involved machinery will hopefully open avenues for controlling the plant infection and reducing the global crop loss.
I hope you all find Rice Blast interesting, and I hope I will be able to answer many interesting questions!
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Comment on How do you parent boys? in ~life.men
Cleistos LinkI know you are looking for feedback from fathers, but all fathers including yourself are also sons. I think starting with asking yourself about the qualities you enjoyed and didn't enjoy about...I know you are looking for feedback from fathers, but all fathers including yourself are also sons. I think starting with asking yourself about the qualities you enjoyed and didn't enjoy about your father is a good place to start. Ask your friends what their dad did well or didn't do well. I think this is a better approach, because I think a son's perspective is going to be more honest than a father thinking they're doing things right. If your father wasn't present, and a present father is something you think is important for raising your son, then be sure to be present.
Something specific for you: I wish my dad would have been more involved in my hobbies and interests instead of trying to make me interested in his. My dad did a ton of cool stuff. He raced go-karts, maintained a wicked vinyl record collection, loved long evenings of catfishing, and was an incredible small engines mechanic. I wasn't really into those things though when I was young. I loved everything scouting; I loved playing concert music, and I loved playing baseball. I wasn't particularly good at any of those things, but I LOVED them. My dad seldom showed up for baseball games. When he did show, I usually had to listen to an earful of how poorly I played that day or it was a waste because I had a lot of bench time sometimes. He never did a single scouting thing with me, and he never came to a single concert band performance. He did, however, force me to the racetrack, take me to the workshop, drag me along fishing, and he sold a ton of his albums because he "figured I'd never be into them". Don't do that. I had a lot of confidence issues growing up. I thought, "how bad am I that my dad won't even show up for the things I've sunk hours into."
Anyways, I hope you get some of the advice you are looking for. Best of luck with fatherhood!
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Comment on What is your most important game? in ~games
Cleistos LinkThis is an interesting question, and my answer could go a few different ways. However, I am going to settle on a game that quite literally had a direct impact on who I am today. During the summer...This is an interesting question, and my answer could go a few different ways. However, I am going to settle on a game that quite literally had a direct impact on who I am today.
During the summer of my transition from middle school to high school, I discovered a game called Dark Throne (Beta). I played this game into my mid-college years. Dark Throne was a text-based MMORPG which featured a thriving forum. Players literally spanned the globe. Along side the game maintained forum, in-game alliances often kept out-of-game forums for covert planning and general discussion. This was also the time when MSN, AOL, and Yahoo messengers ruled the land.
During those years, I learned how to design and manage forums, which meant learning basic PHP coding and photoshop skills. I also encountered people that were smarter than me and thought differently than me. Many of these people became long time friends, with two of them from Canada meeting with me in person during my college and post-college life. Discussions with people while I played this game directly lead me to a career in science (I'm back in school now pursuing a PhD in cell biology). This was something I even mentioned in my entrance interview. I gained confidence and became a person that was no longer afraid to challenge my own beliefs, and I fell in love with the idea of becoming a seeker of truths.
Looking back, there isn't a video-game that has impacted my life the way Dark Throne did. I talk about the experiences I had with people to this day, and I believe I will for the rest of my life. I wonder how I might have turned out differently if I never found Dark Throne.
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Comment on What game(s) do you love that you never see brought up in conversation? in ~games
Cleistos LinkThe Suffering was released in 2004. I was a freshman in high school at the time, and my buddy and I rented it from Blockbuster for the weekend. This game was our first journey into horror style...The Suffering was released in 2004. I was a freshman in high school at the time, and my buddy and I rented it from Blockbuster for the weekend. This game was our first journey into horror style games, and it had a lasting effect. I seldom, if ever, see it mentioned, but this was one of the best games I played.
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Comment on Affirmative action and its role in your life in ~life
Cleistos Link ParentThe problem is the elimination of affirmative action without a better or at least a working plan in place. In a comment I wrote earlier I brought to light a study on the effects of California...The problem is the elimination of affirmative action without a better or at least a working plan in place. In a comment I wrote earlier I brought to light a study on the effects of California banning affirmative action in 1996: https://tildes.net/~life/17m7/affirmative_action_and_its_role_in_your_life#comment-9bkn
Peer-reviewed articles:
(2022) https://academic.oup.com/qje/article/137/1/115/6360982?login=true
(2023) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004727272300021X?via%3DihubI understand you feel like you took advantage of a system, but the data is there that minorities are at a collective disadvantage from early childhood education all the way up to employment success. Perhaps there is a better route to achieving the same benefits, but that has yet to be seen. California has spent 25 years working on a new method, and while improving, are not meeting diversity standards. On the bright side, the rest of the US has some ground to improve on thanks to California's ban.
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Comment on Affirmative action and its role in your life in ~life
Cleistos LinkCalifornia banned the practice of affirmative action in 1996. What arose from the ban was a case study that showed a decrease in black student diversity in highly selective schools and increase in...California banned the practice of affirmative action in 1996. What arose from the ban was a case study that showed a decrease in black student diversity in highly selective schools and increase in black student diversity in low selectivity schools. Graduation rates of black students decreased after the ban, and job prospects/success was also negatively impacted. https://youtu.be/T-pLmNTyut4
What was observed in California may be what is coming for the whole US. Anyone can argue that affirmative action wasn't a silver bullet, and that there is a better way to fairly increase diversity at universities, but striking something down before a better plan is in place is like quitting your job before you have new work lined up.
I second Victorinox! This was my first nice chef knife, and I still use it today, along side my Wusthof.
I'd recommend getting the 8" chef knife. I have both the 8 and 10", and I prefer the 8" blade for 99% of my chopping work.