Preview Mode Links will not work in preview mode

The Courageous Scientists Podcast is a short-term passion project by Kate Clancy, anthropology professor, trouble-maker, and host of Period Podcast. Hear interviews with inspiring scientists who stand in their values, serve as role models, and do hard things. Remember that while some of us can do work right now, others of us are having to put it down or change direction for a time, or focus on the care of others. This is all good and important work. Music selection by Janice Collins (Ambient Technology by Alexei Anisimov), and header and icon by Carrie Templeton.

May 29, 2020

Vassiki Chauhan is a PhD candidate at Dartmouth in psychology and brain sciences. She has also been a courageous activist against sexual harassment in science. Hear her story, and then learn more about her amazing science: you can read her scholarly papers, or follow her on Twitter.

Dr. Kate Clancy (Intro): Alright this is Kate Clancy and this is the Courageous Science Podcast/ educational material for my humanizing science students in the middle of a global pandemic. I am joined by the rather amazing Vassiki Chauhan. She is a PhD student in psychological and brain sciences at Dartmouth and someone that I am very proud to know so thank you so much for joining me Vassiki.

Chauhan: Really happy to be here.

Clancy: So Vassiki, as you know, there are only three questions that I’m asking in this nice, short podcast for those of us that might not have expansive attention spans right now. And so I thought I would just start with the first one: what brought you to science?

Chauhan: So I’ve been interested in science for as long as I can remember, but I started considering science as a potential career for me when I was around fourteen years old. And I got my hands on a popular science book about the theory of relativity and also that dealt with Einstein’s life. And when I was growing up in India, all of my friends were either going to become lawyers or doctors or engineers. There wasn’t anything else that was really a valid option and I had to work within that framework and really negotiate with my parents about the fact that science could be a well-paying job for me and that I would have a secure future. I did go down the physics route initially and I got my undergraduate degree in physics and mathematics.

When I was in my undergrad, I became really fascinated with biological systems and how they seem to get complex over time rather than simpler over time as the second law of thermodynamics would have us believe. And I did an honors project on the topic and I got really fascinated with the physics of biological systems and then I began thinking about how the coolest biological system you could study is the brain and it eventually led me down the path of neuroscience. I got a masters from Italy in cognitive neuroscience and met my current advisor there and ending up at Dartmouth as a result of that interest.

Clancy: Now, Vassiki, that’s so interesting to hear. You’re not the first person that I’ve spoken to who has had, sort of a lifelong interest in science but also sort of had some convincing to do of their families. Can you tell me a little about, like when you made that transition from physics to more biology and brain sciences, was that a hard sell for any loved ones at all?

Chauhan: It was a little bit and I always gravitated towards opportunities that had some financial security as well. So it’s always been important for me to have scholarships when I pursue passion projects and that can be a bit challenging. But as long as you can justify that you have your bread and butter taken care of, it becomes a little bit more of a luxury to pursue topics that might be a bit of a deviation from what you’ve being doing historically. So as long as I could find opportunities that could fund me, my parents became more and more open over time for me exploring new things. And once I had a PhD job offer, they were convinced that I was heading down the right path because PhD’s are prestigious and everyone knows that you get a doctor in your name at the end of it. So In think it took a while before my parents were fully on board with the life plan, but it happened eventually.

And they were constantly supportive because I’ve always been someone who identifies as an intellectual nomad. I take interest in reading and literature, recently painting and I want a life where I’m not restricted by a definition or a box, even that of a scientist. So they have had to deal with how fluid I am as a person before so I don’t think it was any surprise to them that I was changing careers.

Clancy: That’s also really helpful to hear. Right? That you sort of, thought ahead when you were making that transition and sort of prepared yourself kind of the opposite of how we were talking about this passion project of mine where I, sort of jumped in and didn’t really have a financial plan for putting this together to make it available. You really did think ahead and that’s pretty commendable.

I wanted to move on to the second question actually: can you tell me a bit about how you’ve shown courage in science?

Chauhan: So, there’s a public record about how that ended up happening fortunately and unfortunately in my case. I identify as a whistle blower.  I basically reported my personal experiences of sexual violence at the hand’s of a faculty member at the department I was pursuing my PhD in summer of 2017 which lead to a Title IX investigation and finally resulted in a lawsuit that me along with initially six other plaintiff’s filed against Dartmouth College that is now being somewhat resolved with a settlement. We’re still kind of ironing out the details and I’m particularly excited because it comes with not just hefty class settlement that benefits not just the plaintiff but allows, potentially nineteen other women who suffered at the hands of the three faculty members that we brought to court against but also the fact that it is accompanied by some programmatic relief like support for domestic violence and sexual violence… organizing, grassroots organizations on campus and provost diversity funds for hiring intervention for faculty from marginalized backgrounds.

So it was really moving to be able to sit on the same table as Dartmouth administration and renegotiate for the values that are actions embodied. And sometimes courage is a hard word. Like often people call me brave and I to say that I would have rather had these things not happen then have to be brave. And I maintain that to this day like nothing will ever be worth it but the fact that we were able to come together and make something of this experience is meaningful to me. And potentially the only situation in which I would accept the word courage is that we were told repeatedly, even after private conversations we would have people say that, ‘We should focus on our career and pursue science and maybe one day when we have a faculty position, we can look back and change academia from within,’ but only do it once we had opened the door. And I feel courageous because I didn’t wait for that day to come. I saw something that didn’t align with my values system and spoke up about it and I don’t think I could have done things differently.

Clancy: That’s amazing… and I feel like that’s something that I hope folks, you know one of the pieces that I hope they heard you just say, just to reflect back that amazing statement is that, of course you’d rather these things hadn’t happen to you. That you didn’t have to be courageous. And I think we need to pay attention to when science cultures and climates create conditions that force this on people. Right? That either we stand in our values and do things that are scary and potentially carry retaliation or give up our values. And that’s an incredibly unfair position that I’d rather you’d never have had to be in. I am so glad, even with all the costs that… I mean you know getting to hear that there’s a settlement in the works and you know, all these things that you are saying I am so so pleased for you. I can’t even tell you how great that is knowing how long you’ve been fighting. You and the many other folks in this lawsuit.

As just sort of one final thought about this, maybe we should move to the third question: what do you want people to know about what it means to show courage in science?

Chauhan: I think, I hope this is not too pessimistic, but I just feel like people need to know that sometimes showing courage costs you and that’s not all there is to it. I feel fortunate enough to be on a different path, on a path of healing, on a path of meaning making from where I stand right now. And what’s really jumping it to me is that in order to make sense of my own very personal and very traumatic experience, I have had to become privy to structural inequalities that exist in the society we live in and basically now a card-carrying socialist and a member of Democratic-Socialists of America and I’ve become more and more radicalized as a feminist. I think about things that I haven’t thought about before, that I’ve had the privilege not to think about and I’m a firm believer in the fact that institutions shouldn’t change one lawsuit at a time. So I don’t think that people should start talking about the accessibility or access for people with disabilities when someone with a disability files a lawsuit. I strongly believe that it takes courage for people to come forward and show what is wrong but hopefully these institutions can show courage as well in forms of gentle phases and act preemptively rather than reactively.

But I guess, to be succinct, what I am trying to say is, what I’d like people to know is that courage comes at a cost but the opportunity you get from rethinking  why you take a courageous path makes you a better person in some way. It makes you the person that you want to be. Not to sound too cheesy but it’s definitely something that I’ve seen happen to me and my co-plaintiffs and other individuals moving forward. Men and women included, they have been creative about how they live their lives as an aftermath of this trauma and I have nothing but awe and respect for each and every one of them.

Clancy: No, I think those are wise words and that courage does often come with a cost, I want us to not just think about the courage that individuals have to show sometimes in order to push against systems but that fact that true courage comes from leaders of organizations and entire organizations changing the way they do things so they don’t just… it isn’t just responses to legal issues, like you said but actually imaging a better world and then trying to live it from beginning. Right? That’s what any of us want all along rather than putting anybody in the position of being forced to be, like you said, being forced to be brave. You know, it would be nicer if we could all just do our science. (Laughs)

Chauhan: Absolutely like it shouldn’t be that the institution is constantly thinking about liability as opposed to making the campus more livable for who it’s supposed to be for. Higher Ed is an interesting avenue because it really makes people think about whether the institution advocates for it’s constituents or the administration and everyone needs to be constantly evaluating the environment they’re in embedded in to make sense of what is motivating decisions that are made that we see in our newsfeed every day.

Clancy: Absolutely. Any last thoughts or anything else you wanted to make sure to say?

Chauhan: Yeah definitely, I mean… as you said, we should be able to do our science and not engage in uncomfortable experiences like the one that I’ve gone through but I definitely feel strongly about how things would change if academia a was a more inclusive place. Like I just want to send this message out to whoever is listening especially if you are from a historically marginalized background: if you feel like a campus didn’t see you, is to stay on it, and you are struggling with finding your place that’s why you’re here. You are paving the way for everyone else who’s to come and academia will be better because of you. So I just want to encourage everyone who feels out of place to know that they belong in the future. There is a place for them.

Clancy: Oh Vassiki thank you so much. Such wise words that are completely important for our listener to hear so thank you so much.

Chauhan: Thank you for having me.

Clancy (Outro): Thanks for joining me for the Courageous Scientist Podcast. Like I said, this is a short-term passion project to keep me sane during the pandemic, so, I don’t want your money. Please do tell budding scientists and science educators of all ages about the podcast, because I think they’ll like it. If you have the means, send a few bucks the way of your local foodbank. Thanks for listening.


Frequent question: Why is it important to be authentic in marketing?

When practiced correctly, authenticity in marketing helps you stand out in an otherwise loud market. Authenticity is a powerful tool for forging genuine connections with your audience and building trust. Remember, many consumers care about a brand’s values and the causes they support.

Why is it important to be authentic in business?

Simply put, being authentic means staying true to who you are, what you do and who you serve. In an environment in which more human elements matter it creates value and benefits for your followers as well as improving your business.

Why is it important to be authentic?

There are several other benefits of being authentic. Trust and respect: When you’re true to yourself, you not only trust the judgments and decisions that you make, but others trust you as well. They’ll respect you for standing by your values and beliefs. Integrity: When you’re authentic, you also have integrity .

What does authentic mean in advertising?

In marketing, the term authenticity doesn’t change its meaning. Essentially, it’s the process of open communication and being on the “same page” as the audience you’re “talking” to. It’s the notion of creating a dialogue between your brand and your audience that’s natural and genuine.

IMPORTANT:  What is the use of API token in Jenkins?

Why is authenticity so important in developing a successful marketing and branding approach?

Implementing authenticity marketing will help you express brand values and purpose. And since many consumers (younger ones in particular) are more inclined to align themselves with businesses that share their values, authenticity marketing puts you in a position to win over the right customers.

How do you become authentic?

What does it mean to be authentic?

  1. Speaking your opinions honestly in a healthy way.
  2. Making decisions that align with your values and beliefs.
  3. Pursuing your passions.
  4. Listening to the inner voice guiding you forward.
  5. Allowing yourself to be vulnerable and open-hearted.

What is an example of authenticity?

The definition of authenticity refers to the proven fact that something is legitimate or real. If no one questions the fact that the desk was made in the 14th century because experts determined it was, that is an example of its authenticity.

How can I be authentic in marketing?

Authentic marketing always focuses on product benefits, not product features. To ensure authenticity, first understand how your product makes the customer’s life better, easier or more enjoyable; i.e., the product benefits. Then ensure that marketing content focuses on telling that product benefit story.

What does authenticity mean to consumers?

Based on the definition by the Journal of Consumer Psychology, brand authenticity is” “the extent to which consumers expect a brand to be faithful towards itself, true to its customers, motivated by caring and responsibility, and able to support consumers in being true to themselves.”

What does it mean to be an authentic brand?

An authentic brand is one that decides to be transparent and consistent in its messaging and branding initiatives. It has business values it remains true to, and most essentially, it is honest. … They often start looking for other brands they can trust. Your brand’s authenticity has never been more relevant.

IMPORTANT:  What does authentic experience mean?


How to Safe While Traveling

Legal offices and courts now offer in person services again, meaning people need to travel for depositions and court dates. When judicial proceedings take place between people from different states or countries, it requires travel. While things are open, you still want to stay as safe as possible. In this article, we will discuss tips to travel safely during a pandemic.

Practice Social Distancing

Airports get crowded, but you need to do everything you can to maintain a safe distance of at least 6 feet between you and other people whenever possible. Most airports already have processes to ensure proper social distancing while in line and the different lounges and refreshment stands.

While on the plane, social distancing can get a little more complicated. Get as many seats in a row as you can to reduce your interaction with the other passengers as much as possible.

Use Personal Protective Equipment

The rules vary greatly from place to place regarding wearing a mask. Keep plenty of clean masks handy to wear when required and when you cannot maintain a safe distance from others, such as in a crowded courtroom or on a plane.

You do not need masks in areas with plenty of fresh air and space, but you should still wear them whenever requested.

Keep plenty of sanitizer on you (in travel size containers, of course). Use them whenever you touch surfaces that many other people touch, including door handles, seatbelt, and pens. Sanitizer kills 99.9% of germs, including the Corona-19 virus, so you can’t be too careful.

Get Vaccinated

You can get vaccinated for free, so it makes sense to get it done. In some cases, vaccination may be required to travel to a specific destination. You will need to hold onto proof of your vaccination and wait 14 days before traveling. You have three vaccines available:

  • Pfizer
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • Moderna

Pfizer and Moderna require two injections, while the Johnson & Johnson vaccine only requires one shot, but Pfizer and Moderna have slightly higher effectiveness levels. The vaccine you get depends on the facility you go through.

Use Virtual Services When Possible

You don’t necessarily need to travel internationally for every deposition. If you can replace the travel with a virtual meeting, you should make use of this whenever possible. Not only will you stay safe, but you will also save a lot of time and money. Most courts allow for the option these days and understand the preference to stay at home, so feel free to ask about the option.

Depo International offers virtual legal deposition services, including virtual court dates, interpretation, consultation, and complex case managementContact one of our offices in Chicago, Minneapolis, and Las Vegas today to learn more about how we can help you.


Novel written by Nobel laureate and Australian, Patrick White. Considered one of his finest novels, the story centers around a wealthy matriarch and her two children who return home after many years abroad to see their mother die. The siblings petty, selfish attempts to take their mothers wealth reveal how great her power is, even on her death bed. An exceptionally difficult book to read, one finishes it with feelings of accomplishment and enlightenment. Highly recommended.

"The Eye of the Storm" is a 1973 novel by Australian author Patrick White, describing the last weeks of life of a wealthy Australian woman, and her two semi-estranged children who come to see her on her deathbed. It was released the same year that White was given the Nobel Prize for Literature, and this work was cited, among others, in the text for the award. White was the first, and, so far, only Australian to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature.

I have a little journal of what books I have read, listing start dates and end dates. I started this book on February 1st, and five days ago, was only 200 pages in. Then I read 300 pages in the last four days. It took me a while to get into the rhythm of the book. Some of the characters and locations were unclear to me. Some became clear while reading. Others did not. The book is told in a variety of styles, from a straightforward narrative, to passages written as stream of consciousness. It was not always clear to me why, for example, a flashback sequence was included, and whether the events were directly significant, or were just symbolically related.

The plot, in short is this: Elizabeth Hunter, a blind and almost bedridden woman in her 80s, is dying. Her two children, Basil, a famous Shakespearean actor, and Dorothy, a French princess, come to visit her on her deathbed. She is also attended by two main nurses, Flora Manhood and Mary de Santis. These women are referred to with the title "Sister" but apparently are some type of lay nun. While her children visit her, her life, as well as the lives of her children, as well as her attending nurses, is told in a series of flashbacks. Both of her children, despite exterior success, have had poor relationships and are unhappy, which is attributed in some way to Freudian conflicts with their mother. Along with this, it also describes the more practical struggles of the working class nurses attending her. Like many works of literary fiction, the progress of the book doesn't hinge on events, as much as thoughts and feelings. And often, when events are portrayed (such as the book's many depiction of transgressive sexual encounters), they are portrayed in an underwhelming fashion. In fact, I had to reread several times to see if one of the book's passages about those Freudian issues was to be taken literally---and I am still not sure.

The most important thing for me about the book is how it bridged two different types of literature, in a way that would not be possible today. During the 1970s, there was something sometimes called "Epic Fiction", big books that told soap opera stories spanning generations. Writers like James Clavell and James Michener wrote thousand page epics that were widely popular. This book doesn't exactly match that, but it is close. Another closer comparison might be The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough, which also describes the life of a wealthy family in the outback. Or even, for that matter, some aspects of the works of Judith Krantz, who wrote books describing the scandalous lives of the jet set. But, as mentioned, this book also cited as being Nobel Prize winning material, and included many experimental literary techniques, such as stream-of-consciousness. So this book reflected a time when a publisher like Avon could produce a mass market paperback of relatable and exciting content---but also have it be literary fiction.

My own wish for the book would be that it was a little less literary. At least to introduce things. The general personality of the characters, as well as some logistical questions (who is exactly in charge of these "sisters", and are they nuns?), could have been introduced near the beginning, before launching into more esoteric forms of literature. I understood that there were some unhealthy family dynamics going on, but even after hundreds of pages, I wasn't much more specific than that. Perhaps this is me being a lazy (and distracted) reader, but I would have enjoyed the book a bit more if I could have understood the basic conflicts before trying to wade into the oblique description of the characters' thoughts.


Can I open SVG files in Silhouette Studio?

One of the great features of Silhouette Studio Designer Edition is the ability to import SVG files. A SVG file, short for scalable vector graphic, can be resized large or small without losing quality. I love SVG files because they can be used with almost every cutting software.

How do I import SVG files into silhouette studio?

How to Upload SVG Files into Silhouette Studio Software:

  1. Open Silhouette Studio. Open a new canvas in Silhouette Studio. The free version will allow uploads of . …
  2. Open your SVG File. In the upper left corner select FILE > OPEN, or use the shortcut CTRL+O for PC users, or click the open folder icon. …
  3. DONE! That’s it!

Why can’t I open an SVG file in silhouette?

The most likely reason for being unable to open a certain file is because you are trying to open an incorrect file type for your software. Remember, SVG files cannot be opened in the free basic edition of Studio, which is why we provide the DXF for basic edition users.

Can you upload your own images to silhouette?

IT IS INTERESTING:  How do I find text styles in Autocad?

Do I need SVG files for Silhouette Cameo?

Secondly, offering SVGs in the Silhouette Online store means Silhouette users need the Designer Edition upgrade to open the SVG. That being said, since you can only get the SVG if you also buy the . Studio file, it won’t make sense for the large majority of Silhouette crafters to add the SVG on.

How do I convert SVG files?

How to convert a SVG to a PNG file?

  1. Choose the SVG file that you want to convert.
  2. Select PNG as the the format you want to convert your SVG file to.
  3. Click “Convert” to convert your SVG file.

How do I convert a JPG to SVG?

How to convert JPG to SVG

  2. Choose “to svg” Choose svg or any other format you need as a result (more than 200 formats supported)
  3. Download your svg.

Can I create my own designs with the silhouette?

How can you create your own designs? … There a number of ways you can create your own designs, including: drawing on a piece of paper and scanning it into your computer, drawing with a Wacom tablet and pen or Livescribe pen (or any other similar device), or using the drawing tools available in Silhouette Studio.


Accéder directement au contenu Accéder directement à la navigation
Article dans une revue

Characterization of black spot resistance in diploid roses with QTL detection, meta-analysis and candidate-gene identification

Abstract : The widespread rose black spot disease (BSD) caused by the hemibiotrophic fungus Diplocarpon rosae Wolf. is efficiently controlled with fungicides. However, in the actual context of reducing agrochemical use, the demand for rose bushes with higher levels of resistance has increased. Qualitative resistance conferred by major genes (Rdr genes) has been widely studied but quantitative resistance to BSD requires further investigation. In this study, segregating populations connected through the BSD resistant Rosa wichurana male parent were phenotyped for disease resistance over several years and locations. A pseudo-testcross approach was used, resulting in six parental maps across three populations. A total of 45 individual QTLs with significant effect on BSD resistance were mapped on the male maps (on linkage groups (LG) B3, B4, B5 and B6), and 12 on the female maps (on LG A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5). Two major regions linked to BSD resistance were identified on LG B3 and B5 of the male maps and were integrated into a consensus map built from all three of the male maps. A meta-analysis was used to narrow down the confidence intervals of individual QTLs from three populations by generating meta-QTLs. Two ‘hot spots’ or meta-QTLs were found per LG, enabling reduction of the confidence interval to 10.42 cM for B3 and 11.47 cM for B5. An expert annotation of NBS-LRR encoding genes of the genome assembly of Hibrand et al. was performed and used to explore potential co-localization with R-genes. Co-localization with defense response genes was also investigated.
Liste complète des métadonnées

Littérature citée [268 références]  Voir  Masquer  Télécharger
Contributeur : Laurence Hibrand-Saint Oyant Connectez-vous pour contacter le contributeur
Soumis le : mardi 8 septembre 2020 - 11:59:02
Dernière modification le : lundi 23 mai 2022 - 14:42:02
Archivage à long terme le : : mercredi 2 décembre 2020 - 22:33:55

Fichiers produits par l'(les) auteur(s)

D. Lopez Arias, A. Chastellier, T. Thouroude, J. Bradeen, L. van Eck, et al.. Characterization of black spot resistance in diploid roses with QTL detection, meta-analysis and candidate-gene identification. TAG Theoretical and Applied Genetics, Springer Verlag, 2020, 23 p. ⟨10.1007/s00122-020-03670-5⟩. ⟨hal-02933267⟩

Consultations de la notice

Téléchargements de fichiers


StockTwits Trending Alert: Trading recent interest in SINGULARITY FUTURE TECHNOLOGY LTD. COMMON STOCK $SGLY

Quantcha now offering unlimited commission-free options trading.

Quantchabot has detected a promising Covered Put trade opportunity for SINGULARITY FUTURE TECHNOLOGY LTD. COMMON STOCK (SGLY) for the 20-Jan-2023 expiration period. You can analyze the opportunity in depth over at the Quantcha Options Search Engine.

SGLY was recently trading at $5.11 and has an implied volatility of 154.23% for this period. Based on an analysis of the options available for SGLY expiring on 20-Jan-2023, there is a 33.83% likelihood that the underlying will close within the analyzed range of $1.40-$5.11 at expiration. In this scenario, the average linear return for the trade would be 1180.41%.

Trending on StockTwits: StockTwits® is a financial communications platform for the financial and investing community. On their site, SINGULARITY FUTURE TECHNOLOGY LTD. COMMON STOCK was recently trending, indicating that breaking news and/or market activity has significantly impacted sentiment toward the stock. This movement can be interpretted as a sign of more near-term price movement for the underlying.

Trade approach: The recent sentiment change in SGLY on StockTwits appears to be significantly negative, indicating that the stock is likely to follow in that direction for investors trading on sentiment. As a result, a bearish strategy could prove effective if the sentiment ultimately turns out to drive trading.

Upside potential: Using this bearish strategy, the trade would be profitable if SINGULARITY FUTURE TECHNOLOGY LTD. COMMON STOCK closed at or below $7.45 on 20-Jan-2023. Based on our analysis, there is a 61.11% likelihood of this return.


Lewis Structure of BrCl3 (With 5 Simple Steps to Draw!)

Lewis Structure of BrCl3

Ready to learn how to draw the lewis structure of BrCl3?

Here, I have explained 5 simple steps to draw the lewis dot structure of BrCl3 (along with images).

So, if you are ready to go with these 5 simple steps, then let’s dive right into it!

Lewis structure of BrCl3 contains three single bonds between the Bromine (Br) atom and each Chlorine (Cl) atom. The Bromine atom (Br) is at the center and it is surrounded by 3 Chlorine atoms (Cl). The Bromine atom has 2 lone pairs and all the three Chlorine atoms have 3 lone pairs.

Let’s draw and understand this lewis dot structure step by step.

(Note: Take a pen and paper with you and try to draw this lewis structure along with me. I am sure you will definitely learn how to draw lewis structure of BrCl3).

6 Steps to Draw the Lewis Structure of BrCl3

Step #1: Calculate the total number of valence electrons

Here, the given molecule is BrCl3. In order to draw the lewis structure of BrCl3, first of all you have to find the total number of valence electrons present in the BrCl3 molecule.
(Valence electrons are the number of electrons present in the outermost shell of an atom).

So, let’s calculate this first.

Calculation of valence electrons in BrCl3

  • For Bromine:

Bromine is a group 17 element on the periodic table.

Hence, the valence electrons present in bromine is 7 (see below image).

  • For Chlorine:

Chlorine is a group 17 element on the periodic table.

Hence, the valence electron present in chlorine is 7 (see below image).

Hence in a BrCl3 molecule,

Valence electrons given by Bromine (Br) atom = 7
Valence electrons given by each CHlorine (Cl) atom = 7
So, total number of Valence electrons in BrCl3 molecule = 7 + 7(3) = 28

Step #2: Select the center atom

While selecting the atom, always put the least electronegative atom at the center.

(Remember: Fluorine is the most electronegative element on the periodic table and the electronegativity decreases as we move right to left in the periodic table as well as top to bottom in the periodic table).

Here in the BrCl3 molecule, if we compare the bromine atom (Br) and chlorine atom (Cl), then the bromine is less electronegative than chlorine.

So, bromine should be placed in the center and the remaining 3 chlorine atoms will surround it.

step 1

Step #3: Put two electrons between the atoms to represent a chemical bond

Now in the above sketch of BrCl3 molecule, put the two electrons (i.e electron pair) between each bromine atom and chlorine atom to represent a chemical bond between them.

step 2

These pairs of electrons present between the Bromine (Br) and Chlorine (Cl) atoms form a chemical bond, which bonds the bromine and chlorine atoms with each other in a BrCl3 molecule.

Step #4: Complete the octet (or duplet) on outside atoms. If the valence electrons are left, then put the valence electrons pair on the central atom

Don’t worry, I’ll explain!

In the Lewis structure of BrCl3, the outer atoms are chlorine atoms.

So now, you have to complete the octet on these chlorine atoms (because chlorine requires 8 electrons to have a complete outer shell).

step 3

Now, you can see in the above image that all the chlorine atoms form an octet.

Also, only 24 valence electrons of BrCl3 molecule are used in the above structure.

But there are total 28 valence electrons in BrCl3 molecule (as calculated in step #1).

So the number of electrons left to be kept on the central atom = 28 – 24 = 4.

So let’s keep these four electrons (i.e 2 electron pairs) on the central atom.

step 4

Now, let’s move to the next step.

Step #5: Final step – Check the stability of lewis structure by calculating the formal charge on each atom

Now, you have come to the final step and here you have to check the formal charge on bromine atom (Br) as well as each chlorine atom (Cl).

For that, you need to remember the formula of formal charge;

Formal charge = Valence electrons – Nonbonding electrons – (Bonding electrons)/2

step 5
  • For Bromine:
    Valence electron = 7 (as it is in group 17)
    Nonbonding electrons = 4
    Bonding electrons = 6
  • For Chlorine:
    Valence electron = 7 (as it is in group 17)
    Nonbonding electrons = 6
    Bonding electrons = 2
Formal charge=Valence electronsNonbonding electrons(Bonding electrons)/2

So you can see above that the formal charges on bromine as well as chlorine are “zero”.

Hence, there will not be any change in the above structure and the above lewis structure of BrCl3 is the final stable structure only.

Each electron pair (:) in the lewis dot structure of BrCl3 represents the single bond ( | ). So the above lewis dot structure of BrCl3 can also be represented as shown below.

brcl3 lewis structure

Related lewis structures for your practice:
Lewis Structure of NO2Cl
Lewis Structure of TeF4
Lewis Structure of ClF
Lewis Structure of SO
Lewis Structure of XeCl2

Leave a Comment


Lewis Structure of ClBr3 (With 5 Simple Steps to Draw!)

Lewis Structure of ClBr3

Ready to learn how to draw the lewis structure of ClBr3?

Here, I have explained 5 simple steps to draw the lewis dot structure of ClBr3 (along with images).

Lewis structure of ClBr3 contains three single bonds between the Chlorine (Cl) atom and each Bromine (Br) atom. The Chlorine atom (Cl) is at the center and it is surrounded by 3 Bromine atoms (Br). The Chlorine atom has 2 lone pairs and all the three Bromine atoms have 3 lone pairs.

Let’s draw and understand this lewis dot structure step by step.

6 Steps to Draw the Lewis Structure of ClBr3

Step #1: Calculate the total number of valence electrons

Here, the given molecule is ClBr3. In order to draw the lewis structure of ClBr3, first of all you have to find the total number of valence electrons present in the ClBr3 molecule.

So, let’s calculate this first.

Calculation of valence electrons in ClBr3

  • For Chlorine:

Chlorine is a group 17 element on the periodic table.

  • For Bromine:

Bromine is a group 17 element on the periodic table.

Hence in a ClBr3 molecule,

Valence electrons given by Chlorine (Cl) atom = 7
Valence electrons given by each Bromine (Br) atom = 7
So, total number of Valence electrons in ClBr3 molecule = 7 + 7(3) = 28

Step #2: Select the center atom

Here in the ClBr3 molecule, if we compare the chlorine atom (Cl) and bromine atom (Br), then the chlorine is less electronegative than bromine.

So, chlorine should be placed in the center and the remaining 3 bromine atoms will surround it.

step 1

Now in the above sketch of ClBr3 molecule, put the two electrons (i.e electron pair) between each chlorine atom and bromine atom to represent a chemical bond between them.

step 2

These pairs of electrons present between the Chlorine (Cl) and Bromine (Br) atoms form a chemical bond, which bonds the chlorine and bromine atoms with each other in a ClBr3 molecule.

Don’t worry, I’ll explain!

In the Lewis structure of ClBr3, the outer atoms are bromine atoms.

So now, you have to complete the octet on these bromine atoms.

step 3

Now, you can see in the above image that all the bromine atoms form an octet.

Also, only 24 valence electrons of ClBr3 molecule are used in the above structure.

But there are total 28 valence electrons in ClBr3 molecule (as calculated in step #1).

step 4

Now, let’s move to the next step.

Now, you have come to the final step and here you have to check the formal charge on chlorine atom (Cl) as well as each bromine atom (Br).

step 5
  • For Chlorine:
    Valence electron = 7 (as it is in group 17)
    Nonbonding electrons = 4
    Bonding electrons = 6
  • For Bromine:
    Valence electron = 7 (as it is in group 17)
    Nonbonding electrons = 6
    Bonding electrons = 2
Formal charge=Valence electronsNonbonding electrons(Bonding electrons)/2

So you can see above that the formal charges on chlorine as well as bromine are “zero”.

Hence, there will not be any change in the above structure and the above lewis structure of ClBr3 is the final stable structure only.

Each electron pair (:) in the lewis dot structure of ClBr3 represents the single bond ( | ). So the above lewis dot structure of ClBr3 can also be represented as shown below.

clbr3 lewis structure

Related lewis structures for your practice:
Lewis Structure of GeH4
Lewis Structure of FCN
Lewis Structure of HClO2
Lewis Structure of C2Cl4
Lewis Structure of CF3Cl

Leave a Comment


Lewis Structure of SbF5 (With 5 Simple Steps to Draw!)

Lewis Structure of SbF5

I’m super excited to teach you the lewis structure of SbF5 in just 5 simple steps.

Infact, I’ve also given the step-by-step images for drawing the lewis dot structure of SbF5 molecule.

Lewis structure of SbF5 contains five single bonds between the Antimony (Sb) atom and each Fluorine (F) atom. The Antimony atom (Sb) is at the center and it is surrounded by 5 Fluorine atoms (F). The Antimony atom does not have a lone pair while all the 5 Fluorine atoms have 3 lone pairs.

Let’s draw and understand this lewis dot structure step by step.

5 Steps to Draw the Lewis Structure of SbF5

Step #1: Calculate the total number of valence electrons

Here, the given molecule is SbF5. In order to draw the lewis structure of SbF5, first of all you have to find the total number of valence electrons present in the SbF5 molecule.

So, let’s calculate this first.

Calculation of valence electrons in SbF5

  • For Antimony:

Antimony is a group 15 element on the periodic table.

Hence, the valence electrons present in antimony is 5 (see below image).

  • For Fluorine:

Fluorine is a group 17 element on the periodic table.

Hence, the valence electrons present in fluorine is 7 (see below image).

Hence in a SbF5 molecule,

Valence electrons given by Antimony (Sb) atom = 5
Valence electrons given by each Fluorine (F) atom = 7
So, total number of Valence electrons in SbF5 molecule = 5 + 7(5) = 40

Step #2: Select the center atom

Here in the SbF5 molecule, if we compare the antimony atom (Sb) and Fluorine atom (F), then the antimony is less electronegative than fluorine.

So, antimony should be placed in the center and the remaining 5 fluorine atoms will surround it.

step 1

Now in the above sketch of SbF5 molecule, put the two electrons (i.e electron pair) between each antimony atom and fluorine atom to represent a chemical bond between them.

step 2

These pairs of electrons present between the Antimony (Sb) and Fluorine (F) atoms form a chemical bond, which bonds the antimony and fluorine atoms with each other in a SbF5 molecule.

Don’t worry, I’ll explain!

In the Lewis structure of SbF5, the outer atoms are fluorine atoms.

So now, you have to complete the octet on these fluorine atoms (because fluorine requires 8 electrons to have a complete outer shell).

step 3

Now, you can see in the above image that all the fluorine atoms form an octet.

Also, all the 40 valence electrons of SbF5 molecule (as calculated in step #1) are used in the above structure. So there are no remaining electron pairs.

Hence there is no change in the above sketch of SbF5.

Let’s move to the next step.

Now, you have come to the final step and here you have to check the formal charge on antimony atom (Sb) as well as each fluorine atom (F).

step 4
  • For Antimony:
    Valence electrons = 5 (as it is in group 15)
    Nonbonding electrons = 0
    Bonding electrons = 10
  • For Fluorine:
    Valence electron = 7 (as it is in group 17)
    Nonbonding electrons = 6
    Bonding electrons = 2
Formal charge=Valence electronsNonbonding electrons(Bonding electrons)/2

So you can see above that the formal charges on antimony as well as fluorine are “zero”.

Hence, there will not be any change in the above structure and the above lewis structure of SbF5 is the final stable structure only.

Each electron pair (:) in the lewis dot structure of SbF5 represents the single bond ( | ). So the above lewis dot structure of SbF5 can also be represented as shown below.

sbf5 lewis structure

Related lewis structures for your practice:
Lewis Structure of ClBr3
Lewis Structure of GeH4
Lewis Structure of FCN
Lewis Structure of HClO2
Lewis Structure of C2Cl4

Leave a Comment


What Christmas Lights Are Made Of – Summaries

Anyone who has been fortunate enough to have a clear sky in the last few days has seen a rare astronomical phenomenon with special symbolism: the connection between Jupiter and Saturn. The planets were so close to the sky, when viewed from Earth, that they looked like a single star. For some experts, such a connection is the origin of the legend of the Star of Bethlehem, the leader of the kings to the newborn Jesus Christ.

But even if this is not the Christmas star – and although there never was a specific star – the fact is that the legend, along with the idea of Jesus as a light that would have come to enlighten mankind, is the origin of the Christmas tradition of lighting trees, houses and streets.

Christmas lights date back to before electricity was discovered. In 1882, Edward Hibberd Johnson replaced the previously used candles with incandescent lamps in order to advertise the latest invention of his friend and partner Thomas Edison. Edison’s lamps eliminated fire hazards, and since the 2000s, wires with hundreds of LEDs have replaced incandescent lamps with energy savings and longer life.

LED is an abbreviation for light emitting diode. They are semiconductor materials that emit light when exposed to an electrical current, a property known as electroluminescence. For this reason, the starting point in the history of LEDs was laid in 1907 when the Englishman Henry Joseph Round demonstrated electroluminescence. But it wasn’t until 1962 that the American Nick Holonyak Jr., who worked in the laboratories of General Electric, produced the first LED with emitting visible light and a brightness that could be applied. These first LEDs emitted red light, a signature of the semiconductor, which is essentially the combination of gallium and arsenic.

The light emission on the LEDs – in addition to the visible spectrum, also in the infrared and ultraviolet – occurs through the interaction between electrons and holes, a part of physics that, at least in my time, emerged from science classes. To get an idea of what it is, we can use a more familiar analogy of the atom as a planetary system.

In this model, electrons orbit a nucleus made up of protons and neutrons at defined energy levels, the orbitals, and between them we have forbidden levels where the electron cannot be. There are a limited number of electrons that can occupy a given level of energy, and they always occupy the lowest possible level first, closest to the nucleus.

When we move from isolated atoms to solids made up of several organized atoms – from particle physics to so-called solid state physics or to condensed matter – the energy levels of these atoms interact and form energy bands. Here, too, electrons can circulate in different bands, but there are forbidden bands. Another important classification is the valence band – the highest band that is completely filled with the corresponding electrons, inert – and the conduction band – the band directly above that where free electrons are located.

The fundamental difference between conductive and insulating materials lies in the energy that electrons need to transpose this barrier between the valence and conduction bands, i.e. to cross the forbidden band (also known from English as the gap).

Semiconductor materials are again in the middle of the path and behave like conductors or insulators depending on the conditions. In them the electrons leave the absence band in the valence band when passing from one band to the other, and it is a so-called hole. Holes behave like a positively charged particle and move like the electron and contribute to the current.

LEDs are a specific type of semiconductor material called a diode. The diodes combine semiconductors mixed with other elements (the word used for this mixture is doping), which results in one side being full of free electrons and the other being filled with corresponding holes. When an electrical current is applied, it is the interaction between electrons and holes that causes light to be emitted, and the color and brightness of that light depends on the energy the electrons need to cross the forbidden band.

This energy in turn depends on the material used. After the first red and not very bright LED, in the years that followed, new materials and combinations between them were tested in search of more colors and brightness.

Despite the joy of Christmas lights, this was not the application that awarded the inventors of the first blue LED the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2014. LED applications go much further and are now replacing incandescent lamps in private homes and even in public lighting for entire cities.

To reach this point, white light was needed, which was obtained by combining red, green and blue light emitting LEDs. Red and green LEDs have been around since the 1960s, but it wasn’t until 1990 that the Japanese Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano and Shiji Nakamuro synthesized a blue light-emitting gallium nitride diode.

From then on, the Christmas lights became more colorful and the cities with less energy consumption were illuminated, but light pollution also increased. Therefore, at this moment, I do not wish the readers of Syntheses a Christmas party with lots of light, but rather the balance between the joy of the Christmas lights and the darkness that is necessary so that we can see the stars above us.

Leave a Comment


Published: Feb 03, 2016 6 min read
Frank P wartenberg—Getty Images/Picture Press RM

Thomas McCrae, an early 20th century physician, once wrote about diagnosing a patient with a common abdominal disease.

McCrae's teacher — far more experienced — examined the patient and came to a different conclusion. He diagnosed an extremely rare disease McCrae had never heard of.

The only way to determine which diagnosis was right was to perform surgery. So they did, and the common ailment McCrae suspected was indeed what the patient had.

In his essay The Method of Zadig, McCrae noted that the only reason he didn't consider the rare diagnosis is because he had never heard of it, so in a way he wasn't burdened by looking for it. That let him put higher odds on the more common — and ultimately right — disease. He wrote:

It's hard to overemphasize how much this applies to investing, especially investing commentary.

Read More: Failure: A checklist

Two important things happened in the last decade. One, we had a terrible financial crisis. Two, the market for investing commentary became more competitive.

Both forces turn analysts into McCrae's teacher: The power of a financial crisis is fresh in our minds, and the prize for predicting the next financial crisis in a hypercompetitive media market is enormous. McCrae described the doctor as being "very proud of having diagnosed a rare abdominal disease," which also describes the investing pundit who will make a name for himself predicting the next meltdown, not the next average year.

As a result, a lot of analysts discount the odds of average recession, an average bear market, or average growth. At every corner, they see the rare diagnosis of extremes. Just look at the headlines:

There's a paradox here: The entire reason we pay so much attention to the 2008 financial crisis is because it was rare, but paying so much attention to it makes us overweight the odds of it happening again. Even when an analyst means well and isn't looking for attention, we turn into McCrae's teacher: Discounting the odds of common in favor of something far less likely.

Read More: How to give financial advice

In both medicine and investing, you may want someone who obsesses over outliers. Black swan events shape the world, after all. But there's a difference between respecting outliers and seeing them around every corner.

I want a doctor who is vigilant about cancer risks, but not one who will biopsy every freckle, because that could have side effects greater than the disease itself. (Mammogram guidelines were recently changed for a similar reason.) And I want to listen to an investment analyst who takes the power of deep recessions seriously, but not one who thinks every blip is the second coming of the Great Depression.

The whole wisdom of black swans is that people underestimate their impact. But overestimating can be just as dangerous. Accurately diagnosing a rare disease might not be an accomplishment if you made 100 dangerous false-positive diagnoses before it. And accurately predicting a financial crisis isn't an accomplishment if you spent your whole career before it falsely predicting doom. Even at the bottom of the Great Depression, stocks fell back to where they were in 1924, five years before the peak (adjusted for dividends and inflation). So anyone predicting doom five years too early would have been better off just living through the market crash of the 1930s rather than avoiding it. As the saying goes, more money has been lost preparing for bear markets than in actual bear markets.

Read More: How to give financial advice

The takeaway is something that sounds blindingly obvious but analysts, based on their forecasts, clearly forget: Rare is rare, so we should expect more common events to have a higher probability of occurring.

The next recession may be worse than 2008, but it's far more likely to be something that reduces GDP by a percentage point or two and raises the unemployment rate to around 7%. It could be over before most people realize it began. And, sure, the next bear market could be like 2008, when stocks fell more than 50%. But it's more likely to be something that pulls stock prices down 20% to 30%. If that's the case, we're already halfway there.

Or, as McCrae put it when advising doctors: "It is the simple things which require to be kept constantly before us and which must form the foundation of our diagnostic ability."


Rectangle Tiger Rug 053

Origin: Nepal
Knot: 100 knot
Construction: Hand Knotted
Composition: Wool
Style: Tibetan Style
Theme: Buddhism
Shape: Rectangle

Available Size: 70 x 140 cm (2 ft 4 in x 4 ft 7 in)

Leadtime: 4-6 weeks for making

Please note returns are not possible on any made to order as these are made to your specifications .

Please contact us if you have any questions or if you need further information before ordering. Thank you!

Rectangle Tiger Rug 053

  • Tiger rugs were seen as a symbol of great power and were therefore popular as seats with high Lamas, Tibetan Kings and Chieftains. Many people believe that meditating on a tiger rug will give you positive energy and improve your meditation practice.

    Handmade process: This is highest quality handmade rugs, created by skillful artisans living in Nepal.Process involves wool dyeing, carding and spinning, and then weaving using the unique Tibetan knot. Each rug takes almost a month for one artisan to complete. Our products are made by hand, slight variations in shape, size or colour may occur and are part of the charm of a handmade product. This part of the handmade process is what makes our products unique and should not be seen as a fault. They will never affect the overall aesthetic of the product and its ability for use as intended.


UW Plant Disease Facts

Root Rots in the Garden

Authors: Brian Hudelson, UW-Madison Plant Pathology and Laura Jull, UW-Madison Horticulture
Last Revised: 05/21/2021
D-number: D0095
Brown discoloration of roots typical of root rots.
Brown discoloration of roots typical of root rots.

What is root rot?  Root rot is a general term that describes any disease where the pathogen (causal organism) attacks and leads to the deterioration of a plant’s root system.  Most plants are susceptible to root rots, including both woody and herbaceous ornamentals.  Root rots can be chronic diseases or, more commonly, are acute and can lead to the death of the plant.

What does root rot look like?  Gardeners often become aware of root rot problems when they see above ground symptoms of the disease.  Plants with root rot are often stunted, wilted, or have top-down dieback.  They may also have leaves with a yellow or red color, suggesting a nutrient deficiency.  Examination of the roots of these plants reveals tissue that is soft and brown.

Where does root rot come from?  Several soil-borne water molds (i.e., fungi-like organisms) and true fungi can cause root rots, including (most frequently) Phytophthora spp. and Pythium spp. (both water molds), and Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium spp. (both true fungi).  These organisms have wide host ranges, and prefer wet soil conditions.  Water mold root rot organisms such as Pythium and Phytophtora produce thick-walled spores (called oospores) that can survive for long periods (years to decades) in soil.

How do I save a plant with root rot?  REDUCE SOIL MOISTURE!  Provide enough water to fulfill a plant’s growth needs and prevent drought stress, but DO NOT over-water.  Remove excess mulch (greater than four inches) that can lead to overly wet soils.

Stunting, top-down dieback, and red or yellow foliage can indicate a root rot problem.

Chemical fungicides (PCNB, mefenoxam, metalaxyl, etridiazole, thiophanate-methyl and propiconazole) and biological control agents (Gliocladium, Streptomyces, and Trichoderma) are labeled for root rot control.  However, DO NOT use these products unless you know exactly which root rot pathogen(s) is(are) affecting your plants.  Contact your county Extension agent for details on obtaining an accurate root rot diagnosis and for advice on which, if any, fungicides you should consider using.

How do I avoid problems with root rots?  Buy plants from a reputable source and make sure they are root rot-free prior to purchase.  Establish healthy plants in a well-drained site.  Moderate soil moisture; add organic material (e.g., leaf litter or compost) to heavy soils to increase soil drainage, and DO NOT over-water.  Provide just enough water to fulfill a plant’s needs for growth and prevent drought stress.  Also, DO NOT apply more than three inches of mulch in flowerbeds.  Excessive mulching can lead to over wet soils, which favor root rot fungi growth and reproduction.  Finally, minimize movement of root/crown rot fungi in your garden.  DO NOT move soil or plants from areas where plants are having root rot problems.  DO NOT water plants with water contaminated with soil (and thus potentially with root rot organisms).  After working with plants with root rot, decontaminate tools and footwear by treating for at least 30 seconds with a 10% bleach solution or 70% alcohol (e.g., rubbing alcohol, certain spray disinfectants).  If you use bleach to decontaminate metal tools, be sure to thoroughly rinse and oil your tools after you are done gardening to prevent rusting.

For more information on root rots:  Contact your county Extension agent.

This Fact Sheet is also available in PDF format:

Thanks to Karen Delahaut, Ann Joy and Sharon Morrisey for reviewing this document.


How to substitute corn syrup for glucose?

Sharing is caring!

But reading Christina Tosi’s Momofuku Milk Bar, she says to substitute half the amount of corn syrup for glucose by volume, where she uses 1 cup glucose = 400g and 1 cup corn syrup = 300g. So for 200g (1/2 cup) glucose, the recommended substitution is 75g (1/4 cup) corn syrup.

Can I swap corn syrup for glucose? Corn syrup is easier to find in supermarkets has a higher water content and is slightly more sweet than liquid glucose. It can be substituted for glucose but you need to adjust your recipe for the extra water content in corn syrup.

What can I substitute for glucose? Agave Nectar: A one-to-one substitution, agave syrup (aka agave nectar) has a mild flavor that works great in most recipes that call for corn syrup. Often used in vegan cooking, baking, and candy making, liquid agave works as a liquid glucose substitute, with a similar sweetness though a slightly thinner texture.

Can you substitute glucose syrup for light corn syrup? What can you use instead of corn syrup? One of the best replacements for corn syrup is glucose syrup which adds moisture and sweetness in much the same way corn syrup does.

READ:   How to make buffalo chicken wraps?

Can I substitute corn syrup for cornstarch? Can you use corn syrup instead of starch? Corn syrup can be used in place of cornstarch to thicken some types of sweet food, such as hard candy, fudge, and cake frosting. It is a sweetener that’s used to soften the texture of food, add volume and enhance flavor, in addition to other uses.

How to substitute corn syrup for glucose? – Related Asked Question

Is liquid glucose and glucose syrup the same?

Liquid glucose, often referred to as glucose syrup, is a liquid form of simple sugar. It tends to keep products soft and moist so is often used in icings (such as royal icing) to stop them from becoming hard and sometimes in baking to keep products soft and moist.

Is Golden Syrup same as glucose syrup?

Your questions answered. Glucose syrup and golden syrup are both sweet – 42DE glucose, which is viscous, whereas 63DE glucose has a sweeter taste. Viscous products, no matter their strength, contain a variety of applications, from baking to confectionary, and even in pharmaceuticals.

How do you make glucose syrup at home?

Home made glucose syrup

  1. 2 cups caster sugar.
  2. 3/4 cups water.
  3. 1 teaspoon cream of tartar.

What does it mean when a recipe calls for glucose?

Glucose is a syrup, most often sourced from hydrolyzed corn in the United States and is often called corn syrup. Dextrose, on the other hand, is a powder, purer and sweeter. Glucose and dextrose are available in different forms which affords flexibility for the baker.

What is the use of glucose syrup in baking?

Read on to discover new recipes to make using glucose and why it’s such a handy baking ingredient. Glucose syrup is typically used in foods to enhance flavour, soften, add volume and prevent crystallisation.

READ:   Can i substitute cornstarch for baking powder?

Is Karo syrup glucose?

It is naturally sweet. Corn syrup contains between 15% to 20% dextrose (glucose) and a mixture of various other types of sugar.

What can I use in place of light corn syrup?

  1. 1 cup sugar dissolved in 1/4 cup warm water.
  2. 1 cup honey.
  3. 1 cup light molasses.
  4. 1 cup maple-flavored syrup (pancake syrup)
  5. 1 cup agave nectar.
  6. 1 cup brown rice syrup.

What is the difference between light corn syrup and regular corn syrup?

Light corn syrup has a mild, sweet flavor and is absolutely colorless. Dark corn syrup gets its brown color from the inclusion of molasses, which also adds a richer flavor. Light and dark corn syrup can be used interchangeably in almost every instance, with slight flavor variances.

Is corn starch and corn syrup the same?

What is the difference between corn starch and corn syrup?

Corn Starch (Maziena) is a thickening agent, while corn syrup is thick liquid sugar solution. Corn Starch is used in lots of Asian dishes and it is used for thickening stews and sauces. Corn syrup is used in candy making!

Is corn sugar the same as cornstarch?

Corn sugar is made when corn starch is broken down into glucose. Corn sugar is a natural sweetener that is made utilizing starch that is extracted from kernels of corn. The extracted cornstarch is then refined to create a solid sugar or to make another popular sweetening agent known as corn syrup.

READ:   What is a good cinco de mayo meal?

Sharing is caring!


Raspberry Pi, Python & Arduino

Hey! This article is really old! So old, in fact, that it really only exists to track down content farms that like to knock off my articles (oh hai, CircuitDigest!). Information here may be misleading and possibly wrong. You probably want to be using a newer client library and you definitely want to use an Arduino IDE â‰¥ 1.6 and not the ancient one that comes with Raspbian.

After the other night’s wonderfully slow detour into Processing, I thought I’d try the Raspberry Pi’s “native” language of Python to control an Arduino. This worked rather well, though I don’t have a slick GUI for it yet.

pyFirmata is the magic that allows an Arduino running Firmata to talk to Python. It’s fairly easy to install under Raspbian:

  1. Get the required packages:
    sudo apt-get install python-serial mercurial
  2. Download the pyFirmata code:
    hg clone https://bitbucket.org/tino/pyfirmata
    cd pyfirmata
    sudo python setup.py install

    (If this succeeds, you can delete the pyfirmata folder.)

Using pyFirmata is a bit different from other Arduino applications:

  • Analogue reads and PWM writes are normalized to a 0 .. 1 range, and not the standard Arduino 0 .. 255 and 0 .. 1023.
  • You really need to start a separate iterator thread to stop old readings overflowing the serial buffer
  • Since the Arduino is read asynchronously, make sure that the pyFirmata connection is fully initialized before reading from ports. Otherwise, None values ensue.

Here’s some code that uses the same hardware as before, but simply reports the temperature and ramps the brightness of the LED up in 10% steps.

# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-

# simple test of pyfirmata and Arduino; read from an LM35 on A0,
#Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  brighten an LED on D3 using PWM
# scruss, 2012-08-14 - tested on Arduino Uno & Raspberry Pi (Raspbian)

import pyfirmata

# Create a new board, specifying serial port
board = pyfirmata.Arduino('/dev/ttyACM0')

# start an iterator thread so that serial buffer doesn't overflow
it = pyfirmata.util.Iterator(board)

# set up pins
pin0=board.get_pin('a:0:i')Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  # A0 InputÂ Â Â Â Â  (LM35)
pin3=board.get_pin('d:3:p')Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  # D3 PWM Output (LED)

# IMPORTANT! discard first reads until A0 gets something valid
while pin0.read() is None:

for i in range(10):
    pin3.write(i/10.0)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  # set D3 to 0, 10%, 20%, ... brightness
    print "PWM: %d %% Temperature %.1f Â°C" % (i * 10, pin0.read() * 5 * 100)
    board.pass_time(1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  # pause 1 second

pin3.write(0)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  # turn LED back off

The output from this might look like:

PWM: 0 % Temperature 24.9 Â°C
PWM: 10 % Temperature 24.9 Â°C
PWM: 20 % Temperature 24.9 Â°C
PWM: 30 % Temperature 25.9 Â°C  <-
PWM: 40 % Temperature 26.9 Â°C    |
PWM: 50 % Temperature 28.3 Â°C    | I was holding the LM35 here
PWM: 60 % Temperature 28.8 Â°C    | to make the temperature rise
PWM: 70 % Temperature 29.8 Â°C    |
PWM: 80 % Temperature 29.8 Â°C    |
PWM: 90 % Temperature 29.8 Â°C  <-

If this doesn’t work, check the output of dmesg to see if you’re using the right port. You could try this little test script

# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-

import pyfirmata

PORT = '/dev/ttyACM0'Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  # change this to suit
board = pyfirmata.Arduino(PORT)
print 'pyFirmata version:\t%s' % pyfirmata.__version__
print 'Hardware:\t\t%s' % board.__str__()
print 'Firmata firmware:\t%i.%i' % (board.get_firmata_version()[0],

which should generate something like

pyFirmata version:Â Â  Â 0.9.4
Hardware:Â Â  Â Â Â  Â Arduino /dev/ttyACM0 on /dev/ttyACM0
Firmata firmware:Â Â  Â 2.3

Next time, I’ll try to wrap this in a tkinter GUI. But for now, pyFirmata is a much quicker way than Processing to talk to an Arduino. But there is hope of a faster Java for the Raspberry Pi

learning to tolerate python

Python is okay, I guess, but there’s not a hint of music to it. I’m a dyed-in-the-wool Perl programmer since 4.036 days. When I think of how I’ll solve a programming problem, I think in Perl (or, more rarely, in PostScript, but I really have to be pretty off-balance to be thinking in stacks). I’m learning Python because all of the seemingly nifty open source geospatial software uses it, and if I’m to write anything for or about the Raspberry Pi, it seems that Python is the language they officially support on it.

So I’m learning Python by porting some of the simple Perl tools I use around here. It’s painful, not just dealing with the language Fortranesque space-significance, but also physically; I think I put my shoulder out picking up Mark Lutz‘s giant books on Python. The first program I chose to port matches input lines against known words in the system dictionary file. Here’s the Perl version:

#!/usr/bin/perl -w

use strict;
use constant WORDLIST => '/usr/share/dict/words';

my %words;
while () {
    my $word  = lc($_);

# now read candidate words from stdin
while (<>) {
  print $_,"\n" if defined($words{$_});

I most recently used this to look for available call signs that â€” minus the number â€” were real words. The input lines from the available call sign list look like this:

so if I strip out the 3s and run it through the program:

sed 's/3//;' va3_avail.txt | ./callsigncheck.pl

I get one hit: vapid. Which is now my call sign, VA3PID. Moohah.

The Python version is much shorter, and I’m semi-impressed with the nifty little trick in line 5 (aka ‘dictionary comprehension’) which offers some hope for the future of terse, idiomatic code. The fileinput module gives Perlish stdin-or-ARGV[] file input, without which I’m sunk.

import fileinput                        # Perl-like file input

# get our wordlist
words={w.lower(): 1 for w in open('/usr/share/dict/words', 'r').read().split()}

# read through input looking for matching words
for l in fileinput.input():
    if words.get(ll, 0):

(So far, I’ve found the PLEAC – Programming Language Examples Alike Cookbook useful in comparing the languages.)


March/April 2022

Through thick and thin

A third-generation, family-owned metal fabricator acquires an ultra-high-power fiber laser, further building on its founder’s early dreams

Clear cut

cnc laser machinery for metal cutting.

Compared to CO2 lasers, fiber optics maintenance is simple and straightforward

The next generation

Science background with molecule or atom, Abstract atom or molecule structure for Science or medical background, 3d illustration.

A look at the drivers and suppliers of a growing trend in laser cutting: in-house assist gas generation

At a crossroads

Cross-flow collectors provide a breath of fresh air to protect workers


Preview Mode Links will not work in preview mode

Wines & Wonders podcast

Both Dannielle Bryan and Kirsten Henry Fox have unique perspectives on how they view life.

Dannielle uses her shamanic lens to view that which happens; she studies each situation from multiple perspectives; and, she has easy-to-grasp tools that she uses and offers to us for assimilating information so we can be at peace with it.

Kirsten views everything through her study of the history, stories and flavors of wine. As an executive sommelier, she overlays each life situation or challenge with what wine she'd pair to it. How would the history, stories, or flavors of a certain wine reflect what she is going through or what they are discussing?

Listen as Dannielle and Kirsten navigate their perspectives on life through the seasons of their podcast: time, death, love, play... all human feelings and situations are fair game. They'd love for you to join them. Filling your life with hope and your glass with wine!

Mar 9, 2021

Kirsten interviews Dannielle about shamanism as a practice in modern society. What is shamanism? Who are shamans? Can anybody become a shaman? They discuss where it came from over the thousands of years it has been practiced, and how shamanism can fit into our lives today.

Then Kirsten tells the story of Vinho Verde from Portugal, a wine that is perfect for a spring or summer cocktail hour.


Safe and Supportive Schools

The National Safe Schools Framework (2011) was developed to support schools to build safe school communities and to address student wellbeing priorities. The safety of students is essential for academic development and all students should be able to learn and develop in safe, supportive and respectful environments. The National Professional Standards for Teachers also reflects an emphasis on student safety and wellbeing. This is specifically articulated in Standard 4: Create and Maintain Supportive and Safe Learning Environments.

The National Safe Schools Framework, provides a vision and a set of guiding principles for safe and supportive school communities that promote student wellbeing and develop respectful relationships. It identifies nine elements that help create Ainslie School as a  teaching and learning community where all members of the school community feel secure from harassment, aggression, violence and bullying. This is not just a new 'program', it is a culture and a philosophy underpinning all that happens at our school.

Guiding principles

As a safe and supportive school, Ainslie's vision is underpinned by the following guiding principles which represent the National Safe School Framework's fundamental beliefs about safe, supportive and respectful school communities, a prerequisite for effective learning in all school settings.

Australian schools:


Couples sometimes communicate no better than strangers

January 19, 2011

Married people may think they communicate well with their partners, but psychologists have found that they don't always convey messages to their loved ones as well as they think -- and in some cases, the spouses communicate no better than strangers.

The same communication problem also is true with close friends, a recent study has found.

"People commonly believe that they communicate better with close friends than with strangers. That closeness can lead people to overestimate how well they communicate, a phenomenon we term the 'closeness-communication bias,'" said Boaz Keysar, a professor in psychology at the University of Chicago and a leading expert on communications.

Keysar's colleague Kenneth Savitsky, professor of psychology at Williams College in Williamstown, Mass., devised an experiment resembling a parlor game to study the issue. In it, two sets of couples sat in chairs with their backs to each other and tried to discern the meaning of each other's ambiguous phrases. In all, 24 married couples participated.

"A wife who says to her husband, 'it's getting hot in here,' as a hint for her husband to turn up the air conditioning a notch, may be surprised when he interprets her statement as a coy, amorous advance instead," said Savitsky, who is lead author of the paper, "The Closeness-Communications Bias: Increased Egocentrism among Friends versus Strangers," published in the January issue of the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.

Closeness can create 'illusion of insight'

Communication problems arise when a speaker assumes that a well-known acquaintance has all the information the speaker has, removing the need for a long explanation, Keysar said. When people meet a stranger, they automatically provide more information because they don't have a "closeness bias" in that encounter. In the same way, listeners may wrongly assume that a comment or request from a close acquaintance is based on knowledge that the two have in common -- a mistake the listener would not make with a stranger.

In order to test that idea, a team at Keysar's lab set up an experiment in which two students would sit across from each other, separated by a box with square compartments that contained objects. Some of the objects were not visible to one of the students. That student, the speaker, would ask the partner to move one of the objects -- but the speaker did not know that the request could be interpreted in two different ways. For example, if the speaker asked the partner to move a mouse, the partner would have two options: a computer mouse that the speaker could see, or a stuffed mouse that the speaker could not see.

The study found that when partners were asked to move an object with an ambiguous name, they would hesitate longer if the speaker was a friend. But if the speaker was a stranger, the partner would be faster to focus on the object that the speaker could see, and ignore the object that the speaker did not know about. This showed that the participants were more likely to take an egocentric position when working with a friend, neglecting to consider the possibility that the friend didn't share the same information they had.

"Our problem in communicating with friends and spouses is that we have an illusion of insight. Getting close to someone appears to create the illusion of understanding more than actual understanding," said co-author Nicholas Epley, a professor of behavioral science at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

"The understanding, 'What I know is different from what you know' is essential for effective communication to occur," Savitsky said. "It is necessary for giving directions, for teaching a class or just for having an ordinary conversation. But that insight can be elusive when the 'you' in question is a close friend or spouse."
Joining the three in authoring the article were Travis Carter, a College graduate of the University of Chicago and a post-doctoral student at Chicago Booth, and Ashley Swanson, a graduate student at MIT.

University of Chicago

Related Partners Articles from Brightsurf:

Post-traumatic stress experienced by partners following miscarriage
One in 12 partners experience post-traumatic stress after miscarriage, suggests a new study.

Romantic partners influence each other's goals
Over the long-term, what one partner in a two-person relationship wishes to avoid, so too does the other partner -- and what one wants to achieve, so does the other.

Women and men still choose partners like they used to
Men and women choose partners according to different criteria. These are the same almost all over the world and have remained unchanged in the last 30 years, according to a new survey of 14 000 people.

PTSD partners feel invisible, study finds
Recognition of the needs of wives and intimate partners in supporting the recovery of veterans and front-line emergency workers affected by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been highlighted in a new study led by Flinders University.

Microscopic partners could help plants survive stressful environments
Tiny, symbiotic fungi play an outsized role in helping plants survive stresses like drought and extreme temperatures, which could help feed a planet experiencing climate change, report scientists at Washington State University.

The influence of alcohol consumption among cohabitating partners
Research has linked a partner's or spouse's drinking with changes in alcohol-related behaviors, but few studies have considered only cohabiting relationships.

Depression and binge-drinking more common among military partners
New research from King's College London suggests that depression and binge-drinking are more common among the female partners of UK military personnel than among comparable women outside the military community.

Children and partners are key
Fewer children, distant relatives or friends, and an increasing plurality of family models: These factors impact on the availability of support and care in old age.

'Mindreading' neurons simulate decisions of social partners
Scientists have identified special types of brain cells that may allow us to simulate the decision-making processes of others, thereby reconstructing their state of mind and predicting their intentions.

Read More: Partners News and Partners Current Events is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to


When I seek advice, or work with someone, I want to know who they are, what makes them tick, and that they speak and perform from their own experience, not the experience of others. And because you might feel the same way, I decided to lay out some of what makes me tick, what I have experienced – so far.

I am like you, an energetic consciousness in a human form on an adventurous journey in the physical reality – I didn’t always know that.  I’ve been described as the guy who loves life and lives it to the fullest. I have experienced much - amazing highs, horrendous lows - more than most.

I am an artist, a produced and published writer and author, an award winning filmmaker, a musician, a sound healing facilitator, an entrepreneur having started nine companies, a radio DJ, an actor, activist, and a high school drop out. I am a speaker, a transformational teacher, and a vlogger. I am a mountain climber and mountaineering instructor, a licensed racing driver, scuba diver, skydiver, underwater archaeologist, a skipper, a multi-engine rated pilot, and I'm skilled in carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and masonry.

I have travelled, lived or worked in sixty+ countries, which opened my heart and mind in ways I could never fully express. I practice Native American traditions and have participated in hundreds of Sweat Lodge Ceremonies, and have completed four Vision Quests. I meditate daily, walk a deeply personal spiritual path, have moments of enlightenment, hold all beings up as equal, and choose principles and actions that benefit everyone and all of nature. I live and accept life’s practical and mystical duality, and I trust my instincts and intuitions when reading and guiding myself and others. I have self-healed, which baffled an army of doctors, and I am an empath, which baffled me until I finally understood it.

I embrace everything that happens to me as my own doing, like being robbed in India, losing my business and home in Cape Town, falling from a five-story building as a child, being arrested twenty times in my teens, taking on the US Air Force and winning, and surviving alcoholic parents, a dysfunctional family, and abuse, all growing up in Los Angeles. I have wronged others, and have made amends. I have forgiven when forgiveness was unexpected. I am a leader, and know when to follow. I live in the moment.

I’ve been a husband, a father, an uncle, a brother, a mentor, and a trusted friend. I have succeeded and failed spectacularly, loved and hated, laughed and cried, been arrogant and humbled. For all of these, and so much more, I am grateful.

There is no other option.


Soufflé at home Three Super Simple recipes!

Soufflé at home
Cooking food is a skill that everyone should have. Homemade food is way better than a restaurant or takeout food.

Soufflé at home

When we prepare our recipes at home, we choose healthy options and easy cooking ways. Furthermore, preparing desserts is enjoyable as it can bring the family together while preparing or eating. Soufflé is a French dessert recipe you should try to make. Diverse Soufflé recipes are served as savory or sweetened dishes. It is a dish based on eggs and it is adaptable and can take various ingredients and flavors.

Soufflé and all its variations have two parts: the base and the meringue. The base can be bechamel for savory soufflé or sauce for sweet soufflé. The meringue, which is egg whites beaten to get firm, is the same for all soufflé recipes
Check out this article and select the Soufflé recipe you’d like to try.

Chocolate Soufflé

300 g dark chocolate
300 ml milk
20 g cornflour
80 g egg yolk
200 g egg whites
80 g sugar

⦁ Preheat the oven and prepare the cups you are going to use later by adding butter and sugar to the inside. Remove any excess sugar. Leave aside for later.
⦁ Melt the chocolate. Cut the chocolate into small pieces and put it in a bowl over a pan with hot or simmering water. Whisk many times until it is melted and smooth with no lumps.
⦁ Make the paste. In a pan, boil the milk then add the yolk and cornflour. Cook until the mixture thickens. The paste is ready now.

⦁ Add the paste to the melted chocolate and mix very well.
⦁ Make a meringue mixture. In a bowl, beat the egg whites with sugar until you get a fluffy meringue mixture.
⦁ Add the meringue mixture to the mix and move gently with a spatula from the bottom to the top. The new battery is ready to bake in the oven.
⦁ Pour the batter into the cups you prepared earlier and bake for almost 10-15 minutes.
⦁ Serve the Soufflé after you sprinkle icing sugar on top. Enjoy the rich dessert with ice cream.

Lemon Soufflé at home

Soufflé prepare

45 g flour
3 tablespoons butter
250 ml milk
60 g sugar
4 egg yolks
4 egg whites
lemon zest

⦁ Mix the flour and butter in a large bowl very well until you get a paste.
⦁ Put milk and sugar in a pan and let them boil.
⦁ Add the pasta to the hot milk and whisk well. Make sure you have no lumps in the mixture. Keep whisking until you have a thick mixture. Leave aside to cool.
⦁ Add egg yolks and lemon zest to the mixture and mix everything together quite well.
⦁ In another bowl, whip the egg whites with sugar until the mixture is white and firm. (you can use a food processor)
⦁ Pour the egg whites onto the Soufflé base and mix gently from bottom to top.
⦁ Butter and sugar the cups then pour the batter into the cups and put them in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.
⦁ Serve with some raspberries and enjoy the fluffiness.

Savory cheese Soufflé at home

3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
Some milk
Salt and pepper: to taste
Spices (optional)
3 egg yolks
3 egg whites
Some cheese: grated

⦁ Brush the molds or cups with some butter and then coat them with some flour and leave aside.
⦁ Over medium heat, melt the butter and add the flour then add milk and keep mixing until you have thick smooth bechamel. Now add salt and pepper and mix again. Set aside.
⦁ Mix egg yolks together and then add them over the bechamel sauce. Add the cheese and keep mixing everything together.

⦁ Move to the egg whites and mix very well in a food processor until white and firm.
⦁ Combine the fluffy egg whites with the cheesy savory batter. Mix gently and the new fluffy batter is ready.
⦁ Pour the batter in the cups you prepared earlier and add a sprinkle of grated cheese on top.
⦁ Put in a preheated oven for about 20 minutes. Serve and enjoy.

Soufflé tips and facts

⦁ Soufflé has special cups or molds called ramekins usually made of ceramic. If you don’t have them, don’t worry any cup will do.
⦁ When you get the soufflé out of the oven, it will be super fluffy. Serve it immediately because after 5 minutes it will start to fall. You can do nothing about it.
⦁ Do not get intimidated when you prepare the egg whites. You can do that; just make sure the food processor or the bowl you are using is clean and has no traces of fat at all.
Finally, there are limitless varieties of desserts worldwide and they vary in each country or culture. Soufflé, with all its variations, crossed the borders of France and visited all countries in the world and became a favorable option on menus.


Nuclear Testing 1945 - today

Page 5: Nuclear Testing: 1945-2009

Burgeoning nuclear arsenals

The world’s nuclear arsenals ballooned throughout the Cold War, from slightly more than 3,000 weapons in 1955 to over 37,000 weapons by 1965 (United States 31,000 and the Soviet Union 6,000), to 47,000 by 1975 (United States 27,000 and Soviet Union 20,000), and over 60,000 in the late 1980s (United States 23,000 and the Soviet Union 39,000).

According to the Nuclear Threat Initiative, Israel initiated a nuclear programme in the 1950s, and had completed the R&D phase of its nuclear weapon programme in 1966, although it has not, to public knowledge, tested such a weapon. Israel has adopted a so-called “nuclear ambiguity policy”, neither confirming nor denying its nuclear status. It is not a party to the 1968 Non-Proliferation Treaty, and it has signed but not ratified the CTBT. For more information about Israel and the CTBT, click here.

Officially, India became the sixth nation to develop nuclear weapons, conducting the "Smiling Buddah" nuclear test on 18 May 1974, declared as a "peaceful" nuclear explosion.

In 1982, one additional nation, South Africa, acquired nuclear weapons, according to the Monterey Institute’s Center on Non-Proliferation Studies. To public knowledge, South Africa did not conduct any nuclear tests (see also the Vela incident). Less than ten years later, with the anticipated transition to a majority-elected government, South Africa dismantled all of its nuclear weapons, the only nation to date that voluntarily relinquished the nuclear arms under its complete control. The dismantling was completed in 1991. The same year, South Africa acceded to the 1968 Non-Proliferation Treaty as a non-nuclear weapon State. It voted overwhelmingly to end apartheid on 18 March 1992.

Underground nuclear testing was banned by the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, which bans all nuclear explosions on Earth.

The world did not witness any significant decrease in nuclear testing activities and nuclear weapons acquisition among the nuclear weapon States until the early 1990s. The total number of  nuclear tests in the second half of the 1980s amounted to as many as 174.

But warmer relations between the Soviet Union and the United States from the mid-1980s prepared the way, as did the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union, which was superseded by the Russian Federation. Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine who, together with Russia, had hosted the Soviet nuclear arsenal, became non-nuclear weapon States under the Non-proliferation Treaty. The USSR's main test site, Semipalatinsk in Kazakhstan, was closed in 1991.


Home Page

Gatcombe ParkPrimary School

Teamwork / Respect / Aim High

Please check the newsletter and latest news pages for up to date announcements and information

Welcome to

Gatcombe Park Primary School

Teamwork - Respect - Aim High

Summer 1 Week 5 W/B 18.05.20

STEM Competition Week 5 - Time to write your persuasive letter to the engineers that will judge your entry!

Take a look below at the tasks below and follow them to make sure you get your best letter written to convince the engineers that your idea is THE BEST and should be made into a prototype.

Task 1 - Look at examples of persuasive letters

What is persuasion? It means trying to get someone to do something. You might persuade your adult to buy you sweets when you go shopping!

Read the example letters below and pick out any language that you think is persuasive and polite. This will be a formal letter and it must be persuasive but also polite!

What do you like about how these letters are written?

Is there anything that you would add to make the letter better?

Task 2 - Plan your letter

Think about your idea and talk through these questions with somebody in your house.

What is the main benefit?

Who does it help?

Why is the problem that you’re solving?

How does your idea actually work?

How did you come up with the idea?

Who or what were you inspired by?

Which engineer have inspired you? (Look back at the videos from Week 1 of the competition)

Why is YOUR idea special?

Why should they build your idea as a prototype?

Now jot down some ideas to answer each question. This will help you to write your final letter.

Task 3 - Write a draft of your letter and edit it

Now have a go at writing a draft of your letter. Take your time and take care. Use the answers to the questions you wrote to help you think about what you will put into your letter.

When you have finished your draft, proof-read it for spelling and punctuation. Then check again that it makes sense and you are happy with the language that you have used.

Your letter must fit on one side of A4 and must use at least 100 words.

Task 4 - Publish a neat copy of your letter

Now it’s time to write out your letter in your neatest handwriting, ready to send to the engineers.

Lay out your letter like the picture below. Please do not put any address at the top as we usually would on letters, as you may not have enough space.

Remember your letter must fit on one side of A4 and must use at least 100 words.

When you have finished, please take a photo of your letter and send it to me at

Then we can send it off for you.

Make sure you have also sent in your neat copy of your labelled picture with your first name and year group on.


Vietnam Museum of Ethnology was formed in 1981 in Hanoi with an area of 3.27 ha. This work was designed by architect Ha Duc Linh and designed by interior architect Veronique Dollfus (French).

The museum is a small picture of the history and culture of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam with a variety of unique culture. These artifacts are displayed in many different categories, such as clothing, jewelry, weapons, musical instruments, religions, beliefs, and many other spiritual activities.

What to see in the Ethnology Museum

The museum is divided into three main display areas: the Bronze Drum Building, the Outdoor display area, and the Southeast Asia exhibition area. Looking from outside, visitors will be attracted by the presentation, layout from the form to the content which is very scientific and logical, easily grasp the own cultural colors of each ethnic group.

Ethnology Museum

Ethnology Museum

Bronze Drum Building

The Bronze Drum Building has two spaces, of which one is the themed exhibition space and is always renewed on the second floor, while the 1st-floor space introduces the identity of 54 ethnic groups. There are 15,000 artifacts, 42,000 film, and photos, depicting daily life, costumes, clothing, farming tools, and religious religions as well as the customs of ethnic minorities. For other services, the artifacts here are mostly translated into three languages: Vietnamese, English, French, and some other languages for visitors to visit and explore the museum.

Tourists will be amazed at the beautiful artifacts carefully displayed from clothes, tools, and models of rituals, funerals, or weddings. All are reconstructed as a miniature corner of life as well as the traditional culture of ancient ethnic people.

The outdoor display area

In the outdoor display area, you can see the unique architecture of the ethnic people such as the stilt house of the Ede and Tay people, and the paved roof of the H' mong people. There is also a rice pounder with the water of the Dao people.

Ethnology Museum

Ethnology Museum

Southeast Asia exhibition area

From a distance, visitors will see the exhibition area built in the form of kite wings - a traditional culture not only of Vietnam but also of the ASEAN region. Kite symbolizes dreams, ambitions, and freedom. This place regularly displays Southeast Asian culture, Indonesian glass paintings, a glimpse of Asia, and around the world.

Also, there are educational activities, movie rooms, multimedia rooms. Visitors can see cultural materials not only of Vietnam but also of ASEAN countries. It is the bridge and friendly cooperation between Vietnam and friends in Southeast Asia as well as in many parts of the world.


How A Dog Can Help Manage Your Anxiety

dogs help your anxiety

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses in the United States. Anxiety disorders affect 40 million adults in America, and while these disorders are highly treatable, only 36.9% of people with an anxiety disorder receive treatment.

There are many ways to help relieve the effects of anxiety. Although it is best to consult with a doctor before starting treatment, it has been scientifically proven that your pet can help improve your mental and physical health.

Sense of Security

Pets help to establish a routine and provide a sense of security. When you experience anxiety, it can make you feel lonely, hopeless, and even worthless. Your pet can provide the support you need to alleviate those feelings. According to a 2016 study conducted by Human Animal Bond Research Institute, hospital patients that received a therapy dog had the greatest decrease in state anxiety scores compared with the control groups.

Encourage Socialization

A pet can also encourage socialization. Many people who struggle with mental illnesses experience isolation and loneliness. A pet is a companion that can provide support in ways that other people can’t. Activities like walking your dog help increase the chances of meeting and interacting with other people. It is also a great way to make friends in your neighborhood.

Dogs Can Understand Human Emotion

Dogs have also been known to process human emotion. In a study published by the journal Animal Cognition, University of London researchers found that dogs were more likely to approach a crying person than someone who was humming or talking and that they normally responded to weeping with submissive behaviors.

If you have or are considering getting a dog, bring them to Hill County Pet Sitters Plus in New Braunfels, TX. We provide a variety of services like pet sitting, grooming, private boarding and more! In addition to caring for dogs, we also provide services for many other animals like cats, birds, horses, and turtles! Check out our rates to book your pet service today.


Gas Industry Company.

The Gas Industry Company is in a unique position as co-regulator of the gas industry - facilitating an efficient and effective gas market while offering trusted advice to stakeholders and decision makers as our energy markets transition towards a sustainable future.

An entirely new brand approach was required to shape conversations for customers and stakeholders balancing New Zealand’s energy supply and demand variables with sustainability imperatives.