Effect of Stress in Subsequent Performance in Observers during High Fidelity Simulator-based Training
This group aimed to find the effect of stress on performances. To do this, they came up with two groups; one in which people became observers for two sessions and surgeons in the third session, and the other in which people became surgeons for all three sessions. They achieved their results by measuring the heart rate and salivary cortisol of the observers and the surgeon during an operation at four different time intervals throughout the three sessions. Finally, the results showed that the people who were observers for two sessions and surgeons for the last session experienced a lower stress level as compared to the people who were surgeons for all three sessions. However, their performance as observers for the first two sessions and surgeons in the last session was worse than the performance of the people who were surgeons for all three sessions. The team then concluded that performance was not improved by repetitive exposure but by repetitive actual simulation experience. From this presentation, I have learnt that in order to perform well, not only should I observe as to how something is being done, but I should also practice as a combination of observing and practicing will help me to better improve my performance rather than to solely observe.
Impact of Transverse Modes Interaction in Fiber Amplifiers
This group aimed to find a way to improve the transmission distance in fibre optic networks by using multimode fibers that have higher signal power handling. However, this method would cause higher power handling at the expense of decreased beam quality. Therefore, the group designed a model to investigate the changes in transverse mode power of a laser signal in fiber laser amplifier to minimize the presence of multiple transverse modes within the amplifier by studying the effect of factors such as input pump power, input signal power, doping concentration and fiber length. At the end, their results showed that the beam quality degradation from using multimode fibers can be compensated for by the use of appropriately designed fiber amplifiers. From this presentation, I have learnt that in research projects, I have to consider the many other factors that might possibly affect the results of the experiment so as to achieve a much more accurate and reliable results.
Research Posters
Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Reasoning
This poster shows the effects of sleep deprivation on reasoning. I was interested in this research project as many I felt that it is particularly relevant to me since I have sleep deprivation. The poster explains how sleep deprivation can affect one's performance. It was hypothesized that sleep deprivation increases cognitive reasoning, resulting in lower test scores, slower response time and higher ratings for incorrectly answered questions. At the end of the experiment, the results showed that one's performance level is not significantly affected by twenty-four hours of sleep deprivation. Thus, this could mean that performance levels might be affected when the duration of sleep deprivation is longer due to the accumulation of fatigue.
Oxygen Snorting
This poster shows a design designed by the NUS High students to tackle the problem of submarines having to constantly resurface to replenish their oxygen tanks by storing oxygen in their oxygen tanks. Looking at four processes which produces oxygen gas: Cryogenic Separation, Vacuum Pressure Swing Adsorption (VPSA), Electrolysis and Photosynthesis and analysing the pros and cons of each process, the Vacuum Pressure Swing Adsorption was considered the best method. After which, the NUS High students designed a model in which the oxygen snorting snorkel has an air blower attached to increase flow rate. The following unit compresses, cools, and filters the incoming air. Two or more sets of zeolite plates are used to absorb and desorb nitrogen from the incoming air to remove it in cycles. When nitrogen is desorbed, it is vented through an exhaust pipe while a buffer vessel stores purified oxygen for use in purging. A compression unit compresses the oxygen to an appropriate pressure and then store in storage vessels and piped into the engine as needed.
To Investigate the Adsorption of Cobalt and Lead Ions Using Waste Eggshell
This poster shows the Adsorption of Cobalt and Lead Ions Using Waste Eggshell. It was aimed to determine if waste eggshell is effective in removing cobalt and lead ions by growing seeds of Vigna radita (mung beans) and Glycine max (soy beans) in treated and untreated solutions of cobalt (II) nitrate and lead (II) nitrate. At the end, the results showed that there was a marked improvement in growth of the seedlings grown in the treated solutions and compared to those grown in the untreated solutions, this shows that the waste eggshell has successfully removed the heavy metal ions. Thus, it was concluded that waste eggshell has the potential to be a cheap and effective solution to heavy metal pollution. This can be applied to landfills, incinerators and other waste disposal sites as a significant amount of waste eggshells can be used for bioremediation.
