Chemistry & Biochemistry - Student Work

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/11274/25

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Alternative Periodic Tables
(2014) Peng, Emily
Over 200 years since the creation of the periodic system, it would not be surprising to see more variations or completely different versions of the periodic table. Some examples of these innovative ways people thought of to organize the elements are featured and evaluated on this poster. Of course, these are only a small sum of a vast number of alternative periodic tables out here today.
Changing the Perception of Chemistry through Community Outreach: Inspiring Future Scientists
(2014-03) McKim, Mikeal; Buxton, Alexander; Feyen, Jessica; Sandoval, Esmeralda; Ibarra, Carely; Sotelo, Chris; Gajewski, Monica; Moreno, Jessica; Slavens, Kerri; Mirsaleh-Kohan, Nasrin
The Kappa Epsilon Mu (KEM) Club at Texas Woman's University (TWU) plays an integral part of our Denton campus and local community. As a student organization representing TWU, our goal is to inspire the next generation of scientists by presenting the fascinating aspects of chemistry through exciting visual demonstrations and other community activities. The TWU KEM club helps sponsor several special events on campus as well as taking our “KEM to U” show on the road to local elementary, middle and high schools. We have also started our “Calculate it Forward” campaign. This campaign allows students, faculty and community members to donate their unused calculators, so KEM club can then provide them to a community organization or school in need. Through our efforts we will continue to educate and inspire future scientists by sharing our knowledge and passion for chemistry with the students and community.
Charting a Green Path Ahead: Texas Woman’s University’s Journey to Sustainability
(Student Creative Arts & Research Symposium, 2014-04-09) Caltrider, David; Springer, Emily; Sheardy, Richard Dean
Three years ago Texas Woman’s University took to heart the American Chemical Society’s goal to become completely sustainable within 150 years. Ever since then, we as a university have been working toward a more environmentally friendly, sustainable laboratory environment. This semester, more time is being devoted to this goal. We have successfully completed a semester of organic chemistry using numerous “green” experiments, begun integrating discussion topics and green chemistry curriculum into the organic chemistry laboratory, are working toward being recognized by the ACS as a green chemistry chapter, integrating microwave chemistry into different chemistry courses and faculty research, and formulating a path towards our ultimate goal—complete sustainability. Faculty and students are committed to this goal in an unprecedented manner. Our hope is to become an institution that other universities look to as a role model and leader of how to become sustainable and environmentally conscious, without sacrificing scientific education.
The importance of M140 and M141 protein complex in mouse Cytomegalovirus
(Texas Woman's University, 2014-04-15) Madrid, Carla; Bolin, Lisa; Hanson, Laura K.
Cytomegalovirus can be harmless to most but harmful to those with comprised immune systems. Between 50 to 80 percent of adults in the United States are infected by the age of 40. Once CMV is in a person's body, it stays for life. When studying the virus we work with mice cells. Since the human virus only infects people, a model of the closely related mouse virus is used. There are two viral genes which affect the severity of infection in the host, which are Protein M140 and Protein M141. In order for pM141 to avoid degradation, it must be bonded to pM140. Previous work has identified a 74 amino acid region of pM140, if it gets knocked out, it will cause the complex to bind but not protect. We are working to identify what part of this region is required for pM140 to stabilize pM141, by making smaller deletions.
LEARN BY DOING: MICROSCOPIC STUDIES OF A PLANT PARASITE, ORANGE RUST, GYMNOCONIA SP. (PHRAGMIDIACEAE)
(2015) Monterrosa, Marcello; Maier, Camelia
Microscopy is an exciting, hands-on, active learning resource for students that can inspire a lifelong interest in science. As part of the Quality Enhancement Plan entitled ‘Pioneering Pathways: Learn by Doing’ at our University, an ecology class project was developed for use of different forms of microscopy to study the ecological relationships between Mock strawberry and its parasite. Orange rust is a common disease of both wild and cultivated Rosaceae. Samples of Mock strawberry leaves infected with the fungus were observed using light and electron microscopes. Microscopy analyses revealed the presence of spores with spiky surfaces in leaf lesions. This project helped me 1) develop scanning electron microscopy skill and 2) understand the adaptations of Orange rust for dissemination and the parasitic relationship between Mock strawberry and Orange rust.
Pedagogy, Art and Poetry: The Beautiful Side of Teaching
(2015) Monterrosa, Marcello
The catalyst of ongoing, enduring, self-perpetuating cycles of learning becomes the highest form of expressive art. Memorable experiences, activities, and words can add the artistic aspect and heart to teaching. Carefully chosen poetry has the potential to engage readers’ minds to produce powerful emotional and sensory reactions (Myers, 1997). To a sampling and examination of the most recent and best practices research from Grant Wiggings, Alfie Khon, Robert J. Marzano and others, this presentation intends to introduce a collection of some original and existing poetry and expressive writing to define the art that surrounds the heart of teaching and learning process. Poems and expressive writings, mine and others, can help us relate to those human values that help us build rather than destroy each other, and give voice to the challenge and exhilaration of learning.
Structural and Thermodynamic Studies of the i-Motif of DNA: Sequence Context Effects
(Texas Woman's University, 2014-04) McKim, Mikeal; Buxton, Alexander; Metz, Amanda; Johnson, Courtney; Alvarado, Mayra; Stone, William; Sheardy, Richard Dean
The telomere, located at the end of eukaryotic chromosomes, consists of tandem repeating nucleic acid bases. The G rich strand, with a (TTAGGG) repeat, of the human telomere has a C-rich complimentary stand (a CCCTAA repeat). Former investigations performed on a DNA oligomer possessing the G-rich repeat indicated that it folds into what is known as the G-quadruplex, where the GGG segments form tetrads, and the TTA segments are loops that join the tetrads together. While under acidic conditions, the C-rich strand has also been shown to form a unique structure known as the i-motif. Investigated here is the conformations formed from synthetic DNA oligomers of general sequence (CCCXXX)4, where X= A and/or T, when in the presence of K+ buffer ranging in pH from 7.0 to 5.0. Circular dichroism (CD) spectra were determined at different solution pH and temperatures to investigate the pH and temperature dependence of the folding of these sequences into i-motifs.
Today’s Computer: A Plastic Journey
(2020) Phetsopha, Renee; Salazar, Gustavo
More Than WEEE Think: Despite being a common item, there is more to a computer than we think there is. They are composed of a multitude of materials from glass to metal (either solid or liquid) but most of all: plastic. There can be up to twelve forms of plastics.

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