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Showing posts from January, 2024

Powerful Free Tools for Creating Scientific Graphics

Visuals play a crucial role in communicating complex scientific concepts and research data. However, paid tools like Biorender can be expensive for students, academics and independent researchers. Thankfully, there are many free and open-source alternatives that provide professional-quality scientific illustration capabilities. Why Scientific Graphics Matter - Well-designed graphics improve comprehension and recall of scientific ideas. - Diagrams and charts allow large amounts of data to be summarized visually.  - Illustrations of experiments, systems, processes etc. help readers visualize key elements. - Graphics make research publications, posters and presentations more engaging and memorable. Best Free Tools for Science Graphics BioRender It provides an extensive library of pre-made scientific and medical icons that can be dragged, dropped and customized as needed. Intuitive controls allow easy creation of graphics like cell diagrams, molecular interactions, anatomical illustrations

The Distinction Between a Literature Review and a Systematic Review

Abstract : The given text discusses the differences between a literature review and a systematic review. A literature review provides an overview of existing studies on a topic, describing, evaluating, and summarizing the current state of knowledge. It is a common component of research papers, theses, and grant proposals. In contrast, a systematic review takes a more analytical and scientific approach, providing a more comprehensive and robust summary of previous research. It is characterized by explicit, reproducible methods for each step of the review, including a precise review question, explicit inclusion and exclusion criteria, comprehensive search strategies, and careful screening and assessment of studies. Systematic reviews often involve meta-analysis and provide evidence-based conclusions that summarize the current state of knowledge. The key differences between the two types of reviews include scope, methodology, study selection, analysis, transparency, and objectivity. Unde

Understanding Oxidation Reactions in Chemistry

Oxidation reactions are an incredibly important reaction type in chemistry. They involve the transfer of electrons between substances, leading to changes in oxidation states of atoms. Understanding oxidation-reduction reactions is key for chemistry students. In an oxidation reaction, a molecule, atom or ion loses electrons. This is known as oxidation. The oxidizing agent causes oxidation by taking electrons from another substance. Some common oxidizing agents include oxygen, halogens, sulphuric acid and permanganate ions.  Let's look at the reaction between magnesium metal and oxygen gas as an example: 2Mg(s) + O2(g) → 2MgO(s) In this reaction, magnesium metal is oxidized by oxygen gas. The magnesium atoms give up two electrons each to oxygen molecules. This causes the magnesium to increase in oxidation state from 0 to +2. Meanwhile, the oxygen gains electrons and is reduced. Oxidation reactions result in a loss of electrons and an increase in oxidation state. Other signs of oxidat

10 Great Alternatives to PowerPoint for Making Presentations for Science

PowerPoint has long been the standard program for creating presentations in business and education. However, in recent years many new and innovative presentation tools have emerged as alternatives to the Microsoft staple.  In this blog post, I'll highlight 10 solid PowerPoint alternatives worth checking out. Whether you're looking for new features, better design capabilities, more collaboration options or just a change of pace from PowerPoint, these presentation makers have got you covered. 1. Google Slides As part of Google Workspace, Google Slides is a popular free option for basic presentation needs. It's easy to use, allows for real-time collaboration with others and integrates seamlessly with other Google services. The templates and design options are more limited compared to PowerPoint but it's a great simple alternative. 2. Canva Canva offers an immense library of templates, photos, illustrations and design assets for creating sharp presentations quickly, even wi