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Laboratory Focus February/March 2017 www.laboratoryfocus.ca
app review Mr. BioChem
http://apple.co/1KY6DNZ
Canada-Wide Science Fair comes to Regina this spring The Canada-Wide Science Fair, Canada’s largest youth science competition, will bring together the country’s top young scientists in Regina this spring. The fair kicks off May 14 and runs until the 20, with students vying for nearly $1 million in cash awards and scholarships. In all, the event now in its 56th year, will feature 500 students from Grades 7 to 12 and their 400 plus projects that have earned top marks at regional science fairs across the country. Many of these projects will address the pressing issues of our time: from climate change and food security to declining natural resources and environmental degradation – and much more. The event is expected to attract about 6,000 visitors to the Regina area, making this Canada’s largest youth science competition. Visitors will include 500 volunteers, 350 judges, 200 chaperones made up of professional scientists, researchers, engineers and the public. “It’s a thrill to host this showcase of finalists from our regional fairs across the country,” says Jim Jo, vice-president at Saskatchewan Association of Science Fairs. “Everyone involved is committed to supporting youth as they develop solutions that will help humanity in the years and generations to come.” The Saskatchewan Association of Science Fairs, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and encouraging youth in Saskatchewan to develop scientific literacy and participate in science fairs, is the local host organization in Regina. The group has worked with Youth Science Canada for two years to organize this year’s event. “It takes 10 to 15 years to ‘grow’ a scientist or engineer,” says Reni Barlow, Managing Director at Youth Science Canada, of which the fair is its flagship program. “We are proud to help sow the seeds as we help youth pursue satisfying careers that will enhance Canada’s ability to fulfil its potential in science, technology and innovation.” Alongside the competition, the fair will also feature STEAM 2017, a festival of learning in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. The event serves as the Regina stop for Innovation150, an interactive nationwide tour by five leading science organizations that celebrates Canada’s innovative past and sparks the ideas and ingenuity that will propel our future. It’s also part of Innovation Festival: Saskatchewan, a three-month celebration of innovation across the province organized by Innovation150 partners and the Saskatchewan Science Centre. You can stay up to date on the competition, the projects and check back for the winners by following the Canada-Wide Science Fair on Facebook and Twitter.
The Mr. BioChem app gives its users access to a whole suite of useful laboratory tools accessible from five different sections: Calculators, Recipes, Safety, Enzymes, and Extra. The Calculators section includes sequencing tools, such as one for finding restriction sites within a user-inputted DNA sequence, a codon table, detailed periodic table and a translation tool. Additionally, through the calculator, users can convert DNA sequences into their reverse, complement or reversecomplement, as well as translate DNA sequences into proteins. The calculator section is also relevant to solution preparation. Whether its dilution, serial dilution, molarity, normality, concentration etc. it can help you. And if you want to know the protein concentration in your sample, the app can find that through the absorbance and the extinction coefficient of your protein. Other features include the recipes section for buffers and common laboratory solutions that comes with pre-loaded recipes and allows users to add new ones and select favorites. Within other sections of the app, users will also find a glossary of laboratory safety phrases and symbols. The app “extras” include links in the field.
Complete Anatomy (iOS: Free, $4.99 to unlock) https://3d4medical.com/apps/complete-anatomy
Available on iPad, Mac and Windows, 3D4Medical’s Complete Anatomy app is a mobile resource that allows you to explore human anatomy anywhere. The ideal tool for medical students, teachers and doctors, it features accurate 3D model renderings of the human body and its various system with over 6,200 high resolution anatomical structures. In terms of its usability, its simple gesture control system makes it a snap to navigate the human body as users simply tap on individual body parts for greater information. Additionally, there are audio and interactive lectures, cloud sharing for groups that are studying together, 3D recordings, screens, stickies, quizzes and much more. Unfortunately, while the free demo does allow you to explore the skeletal system and connective tissues, there are in-app purchases that need to be made to get all of this apps’ features. The total cost to unlock the whole package is $4.99.
