In which I reassure you that I'm still here...
Apologies all I've been rushed off my feet these past few weeks :/ Normal service will resume next week (with maybe some bonus posts too!).
Tom Out!
Chocolate Toffee Cheesecake
In which I try my hand at a baked cheesecake...
My triumphant return to weekly CAOS baking!
MRI Basics: What Do I Need?
In which I describe the components of an MRI scanner...
So following on from last week – other than a lot of money to pay for it all*, what do you need for an operational MRI scanner?
*Scanners are often upward of several million pounds.
A Large Magnet
In order to make a significant number of the spins in your body align in one direction a very powerful magnet is needed. The strength of these magnets is measured by a large unit called the Tesla (symbol: T). To get an appreciation of how strong that is there is another unit called the gauss which is also used to measure magnetic fields. 1 Tesla = 10,000 gauss and a normal bar magnet is around 100 gauss.
Project Euler
In which I get back into coding in C...
I did a programming course* during my undergrad but it's fallen by the wayside recently. In an effort to improve my coding skills, and my understanding of maths, I have started on Project Euler.
*I took two actually but only had time for the coursework in one - I might upload my program for it later.
Project Euler
Project Euler (http://projecteuler.net/) is a website which sets maths problems and asks you to solve them with programming. There are currently 410 problems for you to solve.
They usually give an example or two and then ask for a harder calculation. Par example, the 6th prime number is 13 - now find the 15,000th.
This has been very helpful for re-learning my coding skills. You have to break down the maths problem into steps and then work out how the hell you would code that. Also it's fun and challenging!
Moist Rich Indulgent (MRI) Cake
In which I post a really late cake...
Apologies for further lack of tea - reviews will be coming next week I promise :)
MRI Cake
2 years ago, just as I had started this blog*, I had to go to a departmental barbecue and they asked people to make cakes - this is what I did!
*before I posted regularly.
The Cake
- I used a simple sponge recipe to make two 9" round chocolate cakes.
- I used a round cookie cutter to remove the centre of one of the cakes.
- I stuck the cakes together with jam.
- I used ready roll icing to cover the cake pushing it down around the edges.
- And trimmed the icing to make a hole and give it nice edges.
- I then made a scanner bed out of icing.
- And put the correct writing onto the 'scanner'.
MRI Basics: What is MRI?
In which I explain the very basics of MRI...
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) allows us to detect a signal due to a fundamental quantum property of atoms - spin (which I will explain in an upcoming post). Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) uses these same principles to obtain images of (usually) hydrogen atoms in a substance/tissue.
(N)MRI is a non-invasive, non-ionising, imaging modality and is widely used in hospitals worldwide. What does all that mean?
ImageJ and Volume Measurement
In which I describe the complexities of analysing 3D images...
3D image analysis just seems to be one of those things that is harder to do than I'd like it to be.
Before starting it is worth pointing out that with MRI you can acquire volumes in two ways - traditional 2D with multiple slices or a 3D scan. As far as this blog post is concerned these are the same.*
A common measure in clinical MRI is the volume of an organ or part of an organ. After all when someone has brain cancer - "How big is the tumour?" can be a very important question. Here are my experiences of trying to measure volumes on MRI images.
*There are differences between these two methods of acquisition but that would require a whole blog post on it's own.
Project Reynolds: Objects in Space
2012 in Review & New Year's Resolutions
In which I look back on a year (ish) of blogging and look ahead to 2013...
That Was The Year That Was!
Firstly WordPress have provided this nice summary of my year in blogging: http://tinkertailorsoldiersponge.com/2012/annual-report
So this is my first proper year of blogging (I posted a few things before but wasn't really regular at all). It's been a lot of fun and I'm definitely here to stay :) I've managed the majority of my 3,000 odd views this year :)
Let the summarising commence!
Tinker
I've messed about with Linux and Windows. I upgraded to Windows 8 and enjoyed it (it hasn't pissed me off yet!). I've also spent a fair amount of time learning $latex LaTeX$.
Tailor
The main event was Project Thor which was a lot of fun and helped keep me in shape.
Soldier
I didn't do much in the way of Airsoft this year :(
Sponge
Due to foolishly agreeing to bake a cake for every CAOS rehearsal in order to become Social Secretary I have baked a lot of cakes this year. Also there was the annual Pudding Party!
PhD
I've had a placement at AstraZeneca which has been very useful and is still on going. I've also started looking into PostDoc options.
Reviews
I reviewed a board game based on a TV show you might just have heard of. I also made an advent calendar full of alternative Christmas songs :)
Tea
I drank lots of tea and so it was a good year :)
I got featured on http://www.reddit.com/r/tea/ which was awesome! This is thanks to the Great British Tea Test 2012 :)
On to 2013!
Having survived the apocalypse let's have a few New Year's Resolutions:
Tinker
I'll keep tinkering. No particular promises here but expect some more $latex LaTeX$ and Linux stuff along with anything interesting I find out :)
Tailor
- There will be some cryptic updates to Project 0 soon!
- ManSSAGO is hosting the Manchester 2013 Cartoon Rally in February which I intend to have a costume for (I'm thinking Inspector Gadget).
- Project Reynolds has a slight delay due to the party being moved back. This Project will be finished by mid-February.
- I intend to get down to 13 stone for Project Reynolds and then down to 12½ stone by October.
- There will be more sotumes later in the year :)
Soldier
- I will definitely airsoft more next year!
- There will be some site reviews!
Sponge
I'm 'contractually obliged' to make cakes until March sometime once a week so expect more cake making. It'll give me an excuse to use my new Mason Cash mixing bowl and silicon utensils :D
PhD
- I'll finish my placement at AZ.
- I will get a paper written (and hopefully published).
- I will collect all of the data!
- I will probably decide on PostDocs/future plans.
Reviews
I'm expecting to get the following things* to review next year:
*I should go on KickStarter less!
Tea
Armed with my trusty new leaf tea, teapot and a new review style I will continue to drink lots of tea!
Tom Out!
Christmas Trees & White Balance
In which I mess about with exposure and white balance for some Christmas photographs...
So I'm going to cover some basics settings for photographing a Christmas tree and also show the difference between white balance settings and how it affects your pictures.
Christmas Trees
Auto mode doesn't really capture Christmas Trees at all well so stick to Manual mode. Below is a picture of my first attempt before I re-positioned to counteract the reflections from the windows. I also turned the lights off to make the shot easier. As you will be using long exposure times a tripod comes in very handy!
Christmas Tea
Christmas Day!
Christmas Eve!
23rd December 2012
22nd December 2012
21st December 2012
20th December 2012
19th December 2012
In which an old school friend releases a charity single...
A friend from school (all the way back in Reception I believe but definitely through Pre-Prep, Prep and Senior school) has released a Christmas song! It's raising money for the children's charity Futures For Kids and I think it's pretty good too :)
18th December 2012
(Just over) A fortnight of Windows 8
In which I review the Windows 8 experience so far...
So I installed Windows 8 about two and a half weeks ago. In brief - it's a slightly improved version of Windows 7 with a few quirks and a start-up screen that require getting used to. In more detail: