Development of Versatile Luminescent Sensors

Lanthanide based probes and sensors have been widely utilised over the past few decades, particularly in the study of biological processes. The favourable photoluminescent properties of the lanthanide ions and the use of functionalised macrocyclic ligands that permit tuneable excitation means there is now a plethora of examples, across the scientific literature. An azaxanthone-based chromophore has been incorporated into a cyclen ligand, and the ability of this complex to bind to proteins has been studied further, examining the possibility of personalised medicine. The complex competes with selectively chosen pharmaceutical compound in binding to the acute phase serum protein α1-AGP. This complex is one of the first examples which uses CPL to monitor a binding event. The same chromophore, as well as the azathioxanthone analogue, have been utilised further in cyclen based complexes, with the aim of binding the controversial herbicide, glyphosate. Selectivity for glyphosate against other potential competitors has been studied, testing the ability of a series of structurally related complexes to operate in a variety of media. The final chapter looks at a new family of compounds, which bear an extended chromophore and a tripicolylamine based arm. Again, these were tested for their ability to bind glyphosate selectively, in a range of media. Time-gated methodology was used to allow any unwanted organic auto-fluorescence to be removed, particularly in samples which may contain a lot of biological compounds. Following these studies, one complex was selected, testing whether the complex can be used to calculate the concentration of glyphosate in extract from spiked wheat and oat grains. This complex was able to be used over the range 0.5 to 60 micromolar of glyphosate with a limit of around 4 micromolar

Senior Recital, Taylor Jennings, flute

The presentation of this senior recital will fulfill in part the requirements for the Bachelor of Music degree in Performance. Taylor Jennings studies flute with Dr. Tabatha Easley

A Storm Water Runoff Investigation Using Gis and Remote Sensing

Environmental controls are becoming more and more expensive to implement, so environmental management is becoming more technologically advanced and efficient through the adoption of new techniques and models. This paper reviews the potential for storm water runoff for the city of Denton, Texas and with the main objective to perform storm water runoff analyses for three different land use datasets; each landuse dataset created with a different methodology. Also analyzed was the difference between two North Central Texas Council of Governments land use datasets and my own land use dataset as a part of evaluating new and emerging remote sensing techniques. The results showed that new remote sensing techniques can help to continually monitor changes within watersheds by providing more accurate data

Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration (LS1): A Hands-On Approach Supporting the NGSS and ELA CCSS

We will combine hands-on science investigations with supporting literacy activities to help students build conceptual models of photosynthesis

Senior Recital, Sulaiman Popal, guitar

The presentation of this senior recital will fulfill in part the requirements for the Bachelor of Music degree in Performance. Sulaiman Popal studies guitar with David Toussaint

Visualizing Values: A Content Analysis to Conceptualize Value Congruent Video Messages Used in Agricultural Communications

Visual messaging is becoming the new avenue to connect with consumers. The majority of the American public is not connected with agriculture and often questions procedures, practices, and tactics within the industry. Practitioners and researchers have suggested value congruent messages, a type of emotional appeal, may increase attention to agricultural messages. However, limited research has been conducted to define and investigate value congruent messages in agricultural communications. The purpose of this study was to describe the presented messages in videos used in one agricultural advocacy effort, CommonGround’s “Nothing to Fear Here” campaign. This content analysis described the video’s message content and use of value congruent messages. Schwartz Theory of Basic Human Values (2012) was used to identify the values present in each video within the campaign. The values of benevolence, security, self-direction, universalism, and hedonism were common values displayed in the campaign. Message sensation value was calculated, and it was found the videos had moderate levels of emotional arousal. The primary characters in the videos were mothers, farmers, and children. More research should be conducted to explore how the value congruent messages and message sensation value interact to increase a receiver’s level of attitude change after viewing the message

The role of trophic cascading in the degradation of water quality by benthivorous fish

We investigated the pathways by which water clarity increases following fish removal by evaluating the effects of a benthivorous fish reduction in a large, shallow, eutrophic, wetland in a predominately agricultural watershed in Iowa, USA. Phytoplankton was phosphorus limited prior to manipulation. After a substantial fish removal was obtained, water clarity increased as a result of decreased suspended sediment and phytoplankton biomass. Trophic cascading appears to be a determinant of water clarity. The biomass of Daphnia and Ceriodaphnia increased following fish removal and zooplankton grazing reduced phytoplankton biomass during this clear-water phase. Phytoplankton appeared to be limited by zooplankton grazing for approximately two months before reverting to bottom-up control. An increase in suspended sediment and/or increased predation pressure on zooplankton, due to the return of juvenile carp, appears to account for the decline of larger-bodied zooplankters and the switch back to bottom-up control. Macrophyte diversity and density increased after the initiation of the clear-water phase