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Pollencatchers – An NWSP project by NUS High School

Pollencatchers – An NWSP project by NUS High School. Christopher Chang Johannes Liew Kylie Goh Viona Lam. Table of Contents. Literature Review State of Current Research Aims and Objectives Hypothesis Methodology Data Analysis Relevance of our project

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Pollencatchers – An NWSP project by NUS High School

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  1. Pollencatchers – An NWSP project by NUS High School Christopher Chang Johannes Liew Kylie Goh Viona Lam

  2. Table of Contents • Literature Review • State of Current Research • Aims and Objectives • Hypothesis • Methodology • Data Analysis • Relevance of our project • Implications of Global Climate Change • Conclusion

  3. Literature Review • Aerobiology and Airspora • Prevalence of airspora dependent on weather conditions • Tropical airspora do play a part in allergic diseases

  4. State of Current Research • Research has been done in this field to relate weather variables with airspora count and composition, however rarely in a local context.

  5. Pictures of Pollen

  6. Allergenic Tree/Fern/Palm Spores

  7. Hypothesis • Pollen and Fern spore count is directly related to temperature, solar energy and wind speed, and inversely related to humidity and rainfall.

  8. Aims and Objectives • To identify a correlation between airspora (pollen and fern spores) composition and count and weather variables • To identify weather variables that indicate airspora density

  9. Materials • Main Materials Needed • 1 Burkard spore trap • 1 weather station • Light microscopes

  10. How the Burkard Spore Trap works

  11. General Methods • Set up Burkard Spore Trap and Davis mini-weather station to collect data • Load with drum and change drum weekly • Dissect and mount tape from previous drum • Prepare drum for the next week’s data collection • Under a light microscope, scroll horizontally through the tape, taking 5 longitudinal bands • Determine trends between airspora count and weather variables

  12. Methods for Preparation of Drum • Screw the drum onto the laboratory stand • Clean the drum • Adhere Melinex tape around the drum using double-sided tape • Clean the surface of the Melinex tape with tissue • Coat the tape with a thin and evenly spread layer of Silicon grease • Keep the drum in the drum-carrying case

  13. Methods for dissection and mounting the tape 1. Align the Melinex tape with the markings on the Perspex Glass Cutting Block 2. Based on the markings, divide the tape into sections with the needle and scissors 3. Mount the sections of the Melinex tape onto glass slides with water 4. Label the slides (Time, date, Week of data collection)

  14. Data Analysis - Justification of Choice • Lack of independent variables in our study • Use of correlation analysis (instead of regression analysis) and non-parametric Spearman’s correlation • Lack of line of best fit on our scatter-plot graphs

  15. Data Analysis R = - 0.42, P < 0.01, N = 404

  16. Data Analysis R = - 0.190, P < 0.01, N = 404

  17. Data Analysis R = 0.434, P < 0.01, N = 404

  18. Data Analysis R = 0.420, P < 0.01, N = 404 Note: 1 Langley = 11.622 Watt-hours per square meter

  19. Data Analysis R = 0.292, P < 0.01, N = 404

  20. Summation • All of our trends are valid (P<0.01) • Airspora count is • Inversely proportional • Humidity (r = -0.420) • Rainfall (r = -0.190) • Proportional • Temperature (r = 0.434) • Solar Energy (r = 0.420) • Wind speed (r = 0.292) • Based on values of r; temperature, outside humidity and solar energy are the best indicators with which to predict airspora count.

  21. Data Analysis • Similar trends in other research; but with varying relative strength of trends • HCI only identified wind speed and humidity as considerable factors influencing airspora count (Wind speed is the 2nd weakest trend in our study, and we have found other stronger trends)

  22. “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” - Anne Frank

  23. Relevance of our project • Our research helps … • People who are asthmatic or allergic to asthma • The general public • Health authorities • People who own artwork and furniture • Researchers

  24. Implications on and of Global Climate Change • Global warming caused by the greenhouse effect • Airspora count may increase as a result • Action must be taken immediately - reducing CO2 emissions, finding alternative sources of energy …

  25. Conclusion of Study • We need more data sets, and more research on similar hypothesis are needed to conclude our findings into general trends. • Further research: Trends of specific airspora species; Relating airspora count to other variables; Investigation of seasonal and diurnal cycles

  26. THE END!

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