Chapter 15, Section 15: The mentor's reaction – she suspected everyone...

In the conference room, Xu Aida turned on his computer. The first thing he played was an experimental video, a signal control test that they had completed last week after returning to school ahead of schedule.

In the video, Liang Siyu makes the intentional movements of clenching his fist, releasing his hand, flexing his wrist, and extending his wrist. Without any actual movement, the new algorithm can drive the prosthetic limb movements in real time. Although there is still a delay, the overall performance is already real-time.

She looked at her two mentors and said calmly, "This is an intention recognition experiment we completed under non-invasive conditions. Currently, the algorithm is based on MU-driven, collecting electrical signals from the surface of muscle groups to extract features and classify responses."

Next, she briefly introduced the experimental procedure before moving on to the algorithm section.

She spoke fluently and clearly, demonstrating how to perform noise control, signal correction, and spatiotemporal feature extraction, and presented a performance comparison between the new algorithm and the baseline algorithm on the last page.

Her mentor, Professor Byron Hart, listened and nodded repeatedly.

He had done research on non-intrusive approaches while at Berkeley, and he was very satisfied with Ada's approach, especially its elegant and clear feature modeling.

Professor David Brooks, a cognitive neuroscientist and neurosurgeon, and Liang Siyu's mentor, maintained his usual composure.

His long, slender fingers gripped the pen, then paused slightly: "How exactly is electrode drift handled?"

Xu Aida replied, "We have discussed this and, based on the current data, added a channel standardization mechanism to the preprocessing layer, recalibrating the muscle group response range every 12 minutes."

Brooke raised an eyebrow, about to ask another question, when she added, "Increasing the sample size will allow us to test the robustness of the time window selection and location relabeling."

She's incredibly meticulous; it's not like someone in their second year of doctoral studies. Brooke also admits that Ada will become an excellent scientist, and it's understandable that Ned is smitten with her.

He then asked several more specific questions about data labeling and signal interference.

Ned also joined in the response. Clearly, he had recently read many papers on the peripheral nervous system and had his own thoughts and summaries on this topic, rather than simply copying from others.

Professor Hart asked some algorithm questions at the end, which Ada answered fluently. She even pulled up a new slide to introduce three optimization directions she planned to explore in the future.

The two mentors exchanged a glance, having already reached a conclusion. Professor Brooke nodded, and Professor Hart immediately announced his willingness to support the new project.

The two students expressed their gratitude, both beaming with smiles. Their project was no longer just a small, personal endeavor, but had officially begun.

However, Brooke turned to his student: "When this project is published, Ned, who do you think should be the first author?"

Liang Siyu was taken aback, but quickly replied, "It's Ada. She contributed the core algorithm improvements, and she was also the one who initially came up with the idea."

Xu Aida added, "We can co-author the paper for the second phase."

In terms of algorithmic contributions, she is undoubtedly the most deserving. However, Ned did the experimental design, signal interpretation, and provided resources for data collection.

In summary, his desire to co-author a work is a common request in academia—it's just that he has always been reserved and unwilling to consider family resources.

"Let's discuss it further," Liang Siyu said, frowning slightly.

She is undoubtedly the first author, so is giving him a co-authorship just to save face for him as his boyfriend?

Brooke smiled and said, "You can discuss it yourselves."

If Ada is willing to co-author with Ned, he certainly won't object.

But soon, he stopped smiling and his tone turned serious.

“Ned, you’re very clear-headed, so I’ll be frank. I want you to understand your core path. You’re pursuing an MD/PhD program, and your future goal is neurosurgery.”

"Project Tense will begin electrode intervention experiments in primates in April. I'd like you to be the first assistant for the first half of the surgery. Of course, it all depends on your performance during training."

Liang Siyu suddenly looked up, her eyes shining.

Electrode intervention surgery on rhesus monkeys is very close to human craniotomy in terms of anatomical structure and operation procedure, and is one of the most valuable hands-on opportunities in neurosurgery.

Because the process is complex and takes about 6-8 hours, Professor Brooke has always only allowed postdoctoral fellows or a few outstanding senior students to serve as assistants.

Now that they've made an exception and allowed him to participate, even if it's only for the first half, it's enough for him to give it his all.

Brooke nodded to himself; Ned still knew what was more important to him.

He said in a calm but firm tone: “I want you to understand that the Tense project is your top priority. As for the surface electromyography project, you are a collaborator.”

"Of course, I will arrange the time well and will not let you down." Liang Siyu's gaze was focused and his tone was serious.

He must practice surgical procedures as soon as possible to regain his touch and can no longer be as carefree as he was on vacation.

Professor Brooke gave him a deep look, fearing that Ned might lose his head and waste his energy on things he shouldn't be doing because of his girlfriend.

He had high hopes for this student; he was exceptionally talented, with remarkably stable hand movements, as if he were born for neurosurgery. Even more remarkable was his unwavering diligence and dedication.

"That's settled then. Starting next week, we'll come to the medical school's simulation room every Tuesday and Friday for preoperative training. We'll have one-on-one training on Fridays."

Professor Brooke put away his notebook, nodded to his friend Professor Hart, and walked out of the conference room.

Professor Hart smiled as he looked at the pair. He was never worried about Ada’s passion and focus on scientific research. Although this research direction was niche, she had considered everything very comprehensively.

“Ned, David is a very open-minded teacher, but his invasive approach is also the culmination of many years of hard work. These two paths are not contradictory, and it would be great if you could balance them.”

He certainly had to comfort Ned to prevent him from becoming discouraged about the surface electromyography project.

“I understand,” Liang Siyu nodded.

Professor Brooke's words today were not intended as a blow to the doctoral student at the beginning of his career, but rather as invaluable advice. He needs to first establish a firm foothold and solidify both his surgical skills and his research focus.

But this doesn't mean he'll abandon other avenues. As he progresses into his postdoctoral studies or becomes a project leader, cross-disciplinary exploration and collaboration will become increasingly important.

He will continue to participate appropriately in Ada's surface electromyography project, not only because of personal friendship, but because he agrees with her professional judgment that this direction has long-term value.

"I remember your family runs a rehabilitation center?" Professor Hart was most concerned about the data collection issue.

"It's just a small organization," Liang Siyu frankly admitted. Although most of the students didn't know, it wasn't a secret among the professors.

Professor Hart asked with a smile, "Then, can we cooperate more on experimental facilities?"

“Of course,” he assured without hesitation.

"You two are a perfect team. If you need any help, just contact me anytime."

He patted Ned on the shoulder, smiled at Ada, and left.

Only the two of them remained in the meeting room. Liang Siyu turned to Ada and said, "I'll submit the IRB (ethics application) right away."

When it comes to human experimentation, it's naturally him who writes the application report.

It's best to apply for the IRB in two phases. First, apply for general participants, which allows for faster approval. Then, apply for participants with physical disabilities in the second phase. This second phase is more complex and requires more thorough review, and may take one to two months.

She nodded, packed up her computer, and casually mentioned, "As for the paper's authorship, let's stick to what we discussed today. If we submit it to an algorithm conference, I'll be the first author. Once we add data on people with physical disabilities, if we submit it to a journal, we'll be co-first authors."

He grabbed her shoulders: "Ada, I don't need your care. I don't like this."

She sighed, "Ned, I don't like your concessions either. You did the experimental design and signal interpretation, and we still need your rehabilitation hospital for data collection."

“You know how difficult it is to recruit volunteers with physical disabilities. If it were someone else, they would likely be required to be a co-first author.”

He frowned: "But purely in terms of academic contributions..."

"Is this field purely about academic contributions? Isn't data a contribution? Isn't funding a contribution? If that's the case, why do we need to thank foundations in the acknowledgments?"

Why is this guy always so argumentative? She glared at him, wondering what other reason he would have to argue back.

He looked away uncomfortably. He wasn't so sensitive or assertive when working with others.

But because of the extra benefits his girlfriend received from her family's resources, he felt inexplicably uncomfortable.

She added, "Stop nagging. If you keep this up, Professor Brooke will really think I'm a bad woman."

She also pushed forward this project two years ahead of schedule, only to find that Professor Brooke was quite different from what she had imagined.

In her previous life, she started this research in 2017, when the Tense project was facing a major bottleneck. Professor Brooke herself was also seeking new technological paths and was more open and supportive of her exploration.

But now, the way he looks at her is more of a cautious assessment, as if he's afraid she'll steal Ned's heart.

He couldn't help but chuckle: "Is it really that serious? Professor Brooke is just worried..."

I was worried he might act impulsively, but it seems he does have that tendency; at least during the winter break of more than a month, he didn't think about Tense at all.

He devoted half his energy to this superficial electromyography project and the other half to understanding her "abnormality," not only reviewing DSM-5 but also looking at some patient cases.

The good news is that, apart from that night in New York, he spent the last two weeks with her and didn't notice her having any more nightmares.

She knew perfectly well what he meant by swallowing the last part of his sentence. After tidying up her schoolbag, she looked up and smiled.

“Once this project goes through the IRB and starts collecting data, it’s not just Professor Brooke who thinks this way; everyone will think you’ve gone crazy for love.”

In the heart of invasive electrodes, at a time when tense technology is booming, a highly promising MD/PhD candidate is actually willing to divert his energy to non-invasive projects, and with his junior PhD student girlfriend no less. It all seems like he's been blinded by love.

But surprisingly, instead of being sidelined, Professor Brooke made an exception and gave him the opportunity to be the first assistant in the monkey brain surgery ahead of schedule. Who wouldn't be envious?

She felt a little uneasy; this matter had suddenly come earlier in this life. In her previous life, Ned didn't get this opportunity until the second half of the year.

He was in fifth grade then, considered an upper-grade student. Although there was some gossip among them, they were relatively restrained. Now, who knows what will happen?

He smiled and shook his head: "When we submit the article, everyone will know that I am very clear-headed and that your idea is very valuable."

He always believed that anyone with a brain could see that Ada was a shining new star.

He suddenly moved closer, his shadow completely covering her, and they could hear each other's breathing.

She looked up in confusion, but before she could react, he scooped her up in his arms, pulled her close, and kissed her directly.

She was still immersed in analyzing the new situation when he suddenly lifted her up, making her feel a little dizzy.

This was a conference room, and she instinctively wanted to push him away, but she slowly loosened her grip in his familiar and warm embrace.

The warm, woody scent was like that of a pine forest, with a hint of chestnut. She felt as if she were sinking into the sofa beside the fireplace.

Liang Siyu firmly held her back with his palm, gradually deepening the kiss.

He knew he was indeed crazy in love, but not in the thesis collaboration, but in every single day.

Just now, the light smile on her lips and the clever glint in her eyes had captivated him. He always wanted to meld her into his very being, in every moment of eye contact, in every brief moment of closeness.

When he finally put her down, Xu Aida's face was already flushed. She grabbed his collar, caught her breath, and poked his arm again: "Take good care of your hands, or Professor Brooke will really come and kill me."

He chuckled softly, then gently picked her up and even bounced her a couple of times before putting her down.

"I only hugged you for a few minutes. In your heart, am I that useless?"

"No, in Professor Brooke's mind, an MD shouldn't even hold a light bulb, especially his most prized student."

She rolled her eyes. When she reported the experimental design and explained that Ned was the first volunteer, Professor Brooke's eyes had flashed a murderous glint. Didn't he notice at all?

“That’s different. Old-fashioned light bulbs can cause burns,” he analyzed seriously. “But hugging my girlfriend is a necessary guarantee for my mental health.”

She raised her hand and punched him lightly.

He snatched her backpack and took her hand: "Let's go, have something good to eat, and celebrate."

Xu Aida didn't try to snatch the schoolbag from him as usual, but let him lead her away. Her thoughts drifted elsewhere, and she suddenly recalled some old memories.

In her past life, a few months after Ned dropped out of school, one late night, Professor Brooke happened to see her working overtime in the lab. He kindly reminded her not to overwork herself and to get some rest, even saying, "Ned will worry about you."

She had always thought that he was very unhappy with Ned's career change, so he didn't like people mentioning Ned in the lab. But that sentence clearly meant that he still regarded Ned as his disciple.

How come she didn't notice this subtle anomaly? Professor Brooke must know something.

No! There might be another explanation.

Professor Brooke put too much pressure on Ned back then, which is why he became angry and forbade everyone to discuss Ned's affairs. A few months later, he felt guilty and tried to make amends by comforting her. That makes sense.

She was a little flustered, unsure if she was overinterpreting irrelevant details and seeing everyone as somewhat off.

She had to remind herself to remain neutral and continue observing, after all, he had performed well in monkey brain surgery in her previous life, and Professor Brooke was proud of him.

She revised her hypothesis: if the large Tense project doesn't go well next year, Ned might consider leaving the lab due to his parents' high expectations and the immense pressure from his advisor.

Now, she has ample time to observe carefully what exactly happened.

A note from the author:

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