UCO - Graduate Theses
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Established in 1954, the Jackson College of Graduate Studies provides access to graduate education for culturally-diverse students locally, nationally, and internationally, while supporting UCO’s mission of transformative learning through processes which maintain and enhance quality. Masters' theses are a culmination of these studies. Print copies of all masters' theses produced by UCO students are available in UCO's Archives and Special Collections.
Availability of Digitized Theses
Theses completed before December 2007 will gradually be made available in this collection. Chambers Library takes pride in its efforts to preserve the intellectual output of the university and has started a theses digitization project for any theses created before December 2007. UCO alumni interested in receiving a digital copy of their thesis created before 2008 may send an email to diwg@uco.edu. Please include the author name, year graduated, and degree information.
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Availability of Digitized Theses
Theses completed before December 2007 will gradually be made available in this collection. Chambers Library takes pride in its efforts to preserve the intellectual output of the university and has started a theses digitization project for any theses created before December 2007. UCO alumni interested in receiving a digital copy of their thesis created before 2008 may send an email to diwg@uco.edu. Please include the author name, year graduated, and degree information.
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Item Open Access A review of opioid-related death trends in Oklahoma(2024) Roquemore, Brecken; Jourdan, Thomas; Kemp, Jesse; Murray, Cynthia; Waters, AmandaOpioids are a popular analgesic compound that act at the opioid-receptors in the body to create effects of reduced pain and consciousness, euphoria, and dependence (Pathan, H. and Williams, J., 2012). The concept of pain as a fifth vital sign catalyzed the opioid epidemic through the over prescription of opioids. The opioid epidemic is characterized by three distinct waves beginning in the late 1990’s consisting of prescription opioids, heroin, and fentanyl. The state of Oklahoma is lacking an encompassing model of the opioid epidemic within its borders. A variety of studies have been done in the United States and on an international scale that use spatio-temporal designs to evaluate demographic and geographic variables over time as they relate to the opioid crisis. The study herein presents a consolidated model of opioid-related deaths in Oklahoma from 2008-2022 using data from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Summary statistics were performed centering on demographics, location, and drug categories for each year using Statistical Analysis Software (SAS). The results found that in Oklahoma overall opioid-related deaths were most common among Whites (86%), Males (57.8%), and people ages 25-44. There was an approximately 500% decrease in prescription opioid deaths from 2008-2022. Heroin deaths peaked in 2018 at 54 deaths. From 2008-2019 fentanyl deaths remained consistently low then saw an almost 7-fold increase from 2020-2022. Total opioid-related deaths were highest in Carter, Coal, Jefferson, Muskogee, Pawnee, and Pushmataha counties. Prescription opioids showed no geographic inclination while fentanyl deaths were concentrated in urban counties (Tulsa and Oklahoma). This study is the first of its kind in Oklahoma and its dissemination will inform both public and private entities on the use of funding, proactive resources, and treatment for opioid use and abuse. The datasets developed in this study will serve as a resource for future substance abuse research that can bring greater specificity to demographic and geographic factors of deaths involving other prevalent drug classes.Item Open Access Equus caballus semen used as a carrier to increase human DNA from simulated sexual assault swabs for forensic science applications(2024) Long, Sierra; Creecy, James; Fenwick, Allyson; Jones, Keisha; Lansdale, Constance; Williams, RhondaCurrently, there are approximately 200,000 untested sexual assault examination kits in the United States. One reason there are so many untested kits is due to the misconceptions associated with DNA analysis. Since its creation, the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative has reported that 97,000 kits have been tested to completion. While grants are helpful for decreasing the backlog, there are instances where funding has run out or been cut, allowing for a resurgence in the backlog. Therefore, research and development are necessary to reduce the sexual assault examination kit backlog. Conventional differential extraction remains the primary method for separating sperm and epithelial cells despite causing a 94%-98% loss of sperm cells. Despite nearly forty years of innovations, there are no methodologies that improve the yield of male DNA without sperm cell loss. Recent advancements in technology involving carrier RNA have been used to dramatically increase the male DNA recovery without sacrificing sperm cell yield. Therefore, this research investigated the use of a non-human semen sample (horse) as a carrier method to determine if a non-human carrier DNA could be used in place of RNA. It was hypothesized that the carrier DNA should act as a protective barrier during the washing steps of differential extractions reducing sperm cell loss. The thesis studied simulated sexual assault samples in triplicate. The samples were extracted using differential and organic extractions. Finally, the DNA was quantified using Quantifiler™ HP kit to determine the overall human DNA yield. Despite the addition of non-human semen, the DNA concentrations of the experimental group were lower than the control. Therefore, the hypothesis was refuted due to decreased human DNA with the samples containing horse semen. Future research should focus on creating a more tightly packed sperm cell pellet during the centrifugation process.Item Open Access Boys' love dramas and viewer perceptions: a study on 2gether: The Series' impact on United States' female perceptions(2024) Lokey, Paige; Nelson, David; Breslin, Mike; Perry, ChadInternational programming has expanded beyond its initial bounds as a result of media globalization. Streaming platforms such as Netflix and YouTube have opened up new genres to a lot of the world. Partially due to the availability of Asian-produced television shows, the popularity of various genres has increased. The "Boys' Love" (BL) drama genre is highly favored in Asia, as it delves into the romantic connections between two males. While several Asian nations are currently making BL dramas, Thailand has been highly successful and has drawn viewers from around the world.Existing literature on BL dramas is limited; this is particularly the case while looking up Thai BL dramas, particularly the episodes of 2gether: The Series. Most studies focus on fandom behavior and reactions to BL dramas in nations other than Thailand, mainly China and Japan. Thailand is often considered the most successful at making popular BL dramas, which means that dramas from that region are more likely to have a greater influence on how viewers perceive shows in the genre. This study focuses on the Thai BL drama 2gether: The Series as the program of examination because of the popularity of the series and the increased possibility that viewer perceptions may be altered. The research conducted in this study will add to the expanding, if still small, body of knowledge about BL dramas. In addition, the study will shed light on how viewers—especially women from the United States—perceive Asian culture in relation to popular Asian-produced television. The study would be useful to researchers looking into the possible worldwide effects that the very popular BL drama genre may have on the BL community as well as social, political, and foreign policies. The study's findings will also provide light on how the BL community is stereotyped in BL dramas, and whether these portrayals reinforce or replicate viewer preconceptions of the BL community. The findings may help producers and content creators have a better understanding of how depictions may serve to perpetuate unfavorable perceptions about the BL lifestyle. To examine the consumption of BL dramas and its impact on United States female audiences' perceptions of the Thai BL community and whether the perceptions are reflected in Thai BL drama themes, this study will use a triangulation method--a combination of qualitative and quantitative research. To examine 2gether: The Series influences the perceptions of United States female viewers, a survey method will be used in the form of an open-ended questionnaire. The participants for this study are adult United States female viewers. A thematic analysis will be used to examine and identify the themes portrayed in the Thai BL drama 2gether: The Series. This will provide insight into the type of themes that are portrayed and the relationship between the themes and audience perceptions of the BL community.Item Open Access What's the verdict: how disgust dictates jury verdict and the mitigating role of symbolic cleansing(2024) Kurbanova, Selbi; Gayzur, Nora; Limke, Alicia, ?d 1979-; Mabry, JohnApproximately 1% of the US prison population (about 20,000 individuals) is currently wrongfully convicted (The Innocence Project, 2023). Wrongful convictions are influenced by ambiguous evidence, cognitive heuristics, and moral emotions, which affect legal decision-making (Baldwin & McConville, 1979). The present study assessed the effect of disgust-inducing and cleansing images on mock jury guilt ratings. One hundred fifty-two participants were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: disgust-inducing and cleansing images, disgust-inducing images only, cleansing images only, and no images. Participants read an ambiguous vignette about a crime and battery charge, then rated the defendant’s guilt on a 7-point Likert scale. The findings showed, in a marginal effect, that exposure to cleansing images following disgust-inducing images resulted in lower guilt ratings, indicating that moral cleansing mitigates heuristics formed by the vignette and disgust-inducing images. The decreased guilt ratings in the group exposed to both cleansing and disgust-inducing images demonstrate the role of symbolic cleansing in moral restoration and reaffirm the link between moral self-assessment restoration and reduced feelings of disgust (Schaefer, 2019). Future studies should explore the impact of more arousing media and different forms of symbolic cleansing to determine how moral cleansing might influence pathogen avoidance responses and lead to fairer sentencing in the criminal justice system.Item Open Access Deconstructing American laughter: the power of carnivalesque humor to empower the voices of the oppressed(2024) Yeager, Maranda; Huber, Kate; Petete, Timothy; Twenter, BrianMikhail Bakhtin's theory of the carnivalesque, as seen in his book Rabelais and His Word, highlights how laughter has the power to break through the restrictions and fear within oppressive, official cultures, giving power to the people. While Bakhtin's theory takes root within medieval France, the elements of the carnivalesque have thrived within cultures throughout the world where the voices of the oppressed fight to break through. This thesis analyzes American stories of the oppressed with a carnivalesque lens to see how their voices shine through in the promise of rebirth and rejuvenation with the power of laughter. Tabitha Tenney's Female Quixotism (1808) establishes a carnivalesque ambivalence to its picaresque humor and regenerative abuses, generating a back-and-forth discussion of the official and unofficial culture and creating a chance for the issues of feminism and power to be seen from multiple lens when certain voices might have been suffocated otherwise. Toni Morrison's Beloved (1987) contains moments of carnival joy and togetherness that can shine light in the darkness and even creates scenes of grotesqueness that send forth the promise of rebirth and rejuvenation, creating hope and the chance of an empowered future. Through the show Reservation Dogs (2021), Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi break down official images of Indigenous Americans created by the official culture, subvert expectations, and turn power structures on their head through comedy and laughter, creating a powerful coming-of-age story that can resonate with many. This thesis will seek to explore the carnivalesque elements of American laughter through various genres, examining how it fights through the seriousness of America's official culture, empowers the voices of the oppressed, and encourages the understanding of how humor can coincide with the serious to create healing and shed light on important issues.Item Open Access Analysis of the anti-cancer effects of Taraxacum officinale seed extract(2024) Stoutjesdyk, Brooke; Vaughan, Melville B.; Kotturi, Hari; Hendrickson, ChristinaTaraxacum officinale, known as dandelion, has been used in traditional medicines for centuries. In recent years, researchers have started to investigate the potential anti-cancer effects of dandelion extracts. The purpose of this thesis was to determine the gaps in and expand upon the current research involving these extracts. It was determined that experimentation on the anti-cancer effects of extracts derived from the seeds of T.officinale was lacking in the current literature. Cancerous HeLa cells and non-cancerous human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) cells were treated with dandelion seed extract (DSE), and the effect was studied; focusing on the viability and migration of cells along with an analysis of the effects on gene activity- specifically on SFRP1, Axin2, and BMF- via transcriptomic analysis and western blot testing. BMF is involved in apoptosis. Axin2 and SFRP1 are involved in the Wnt Pathway. It was found that there was no significant difference between the effect the DSE treatment had on the viability of the HeLa cell versus on the HDF cells. The migration assay showed that there were significant differences between the cancerous and non-cancerous cells at certain concentrations. It was shown, and later confirmed via western blots, that the DSE treatment affected the above genes in a way that suggested treatment caused a decrease in apoptotic activity and an increase in the activity of the Wnt Pathway in cancerous cells more than in non-cancerous cells.Item Open Access Goddesses, dreamers, and witches: the politics of women in The Wild Hunt(2024) Stephens, Melanie; Vaughan, Theresa A., 1966-; Musgrove, Margaret Worsham, 1962-; Appleby, JessicaThe Wild Hunt is a folklore motif with variants including a group of beings traveling through the night air with a central figure leading them. When we consider the motif of those who were involved in, and specifically those who led the Wild Hunt, a gendered difference becomes more evident during the Late Middle Ages. Existing studies tend to ignore the gendered context and the myriad ways women's existence is objectified, instrumentalized, marginalized, and erased in the motif. This leaves us not understanding why the motif was popular in early penitentials and the political, economic, and cultural reasons why the motif shifted in the particular way it did. This paper examines how European leaders used this motif to divide men and women of the lower classes and ensure the expropriation of women's agency for the benefit of protocapitalist accumulation of labor. I will situate women within European culture throughout the Middle Ages by looking at legal documents, church records, and literature about women and discuss those presentations through an intersectional feminist lens to explore the political cause and function of the gendered difference. When examined at the macro level, a pattern emerges which seems to suggest a correlation between the economic changes of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries that necessitated the subjugation of women. This confirms my position that the use of the motif was intentional. Understanding exactly how women have been historically instrumentalized as a way to support developing Western capitalist structures is necessary as America's economic shift into late-stage capitalism and the concurrent disintegration of women's rights to reproductive health care remind us of similar events centuries before. Further research might include the digitization of medieval records, more complete demographic analysis, records of patronage, revealing historical biases as well as ethnographies that might reveal information about the early believers.Item Open Access "[Corporate] needs to act like they give a f***": a qualitative study on perceived organizational support in the local news industry(2024) Sepulvado-Breasette, Kennedy D.; Johnson, Sherri; Nelson, David; Homsey, DiniLocal news research has shown rampant turnover in the industry, with journalists pointing to factors such as pay, schedule, management, direction of the industry or content, increased workloads, and family. Over the past three decades, corporate media companies have continued to acquire local news stations across the country, leading to personnel cuts that leave those leftover with the additional responsibility and stress with zero reward for the extra daily effort. While the number of TV news employees in the industry reached a peak in recent years, some newsroom leaders saw journalists leaving more than ever before. As turnover is a consequence of perceived organizational support (POS), this study looks at these experiences between the station and the journalist and the corporation and the journalist to understand the current experience, the role it plays in turnover, and where those in the field wish changes were made. In this qualitative study, the researcher provides a narrative analysis of TV journalists' experiences associated with POS with their stations and corporations, their decisions to stay or leave, as well as industry fixes they believe could retain employees. In all, the participants' experiences vary greatly. Commonalities in station POS experiences show that supervisor support, peer support, and journalistic integrity are areas stations can develop to increase perceived support. The findings prove points of research stating supervisor support is critical for retaining young professionals in an industry, peers support is effective in retaining workers locally, and the journalistic profession is of higher importance than the workplace for local journalists (Hill, 2018a; Pease, 1991, Russo, 1998). Disconnect, labor contracts, and again journalistic integrity are areas the corporation could look at to increase POS. These findings are consistent with research stating journalists have a greater connection to the profession versus the employer (Russo, 1998) and that journalists want salary increases as incentive to stay (Reinary, 2014). Journalists who experienced low POS often left the industry or the station. Journalists with positive POS experiences were more likely to re-sign contracts with their current stations, but sometimes personal life plays a role in their decision to stay or leave the station. Like journalists of previous studies, these participants point to needed changes in areas of pay, managerial support, career growth opportunities, the quality of their news product, and human resources practices. This information adds to the understanding of why TV journalists leave their stations and/or careers by pointing out areas of POS that are lacking from either the stations or the company that owns it. It also adds to POS research, by focusing specifically on the TV news industry post Covid-19. The importance of journalistic ethics and products are important to journalists, which is not a POS antecedent in any other industry. Additionally, the study - while limited in participants, points to industry fixes these journalists agree need to happen to keep experienced journalists in the industry providing needed information to the public. Future research should expand to learn of POS experiences of other newsroom employees such as producers, editors, production personnel, and assignment editors. Additionally, future research should focus on the POS of news stations' middle management to better understand the support newsroom leadership receives from the executive level to support newsroom employees.Item Open Access Sportswashing in the Cold War: 1950s American golf(2024) Sadler, John T.; Goulding, Marc; Lacher, Katrina; Loughlin, Patricia, 1971-The conclusion of the Second World War brought immense power to the United States of America. The Cold War was the ideological conflict between capitalism and communism; the United States versus the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). Both nations were actively seeking to impose their own social and political practices on developing and recovering countries. Propagandic advertisement of each society was one of the means by which both the USA and the USSR tried to sway other governments. In America, the sport of golf served as a representation and reflection of society as a whole. However, the United States did not effectively use the institution of American golf to successfully sportswash its national image during the Cold War. Literature surrounding golf and the Cold War in the 1950s seldom intersect. It is at this crossroads between sports history and political/diplomatic history that this project finds academic relevance. Many have created works devoted to telling the story of professional and leisure golf during the 1950s but none other than Catherine Lewis come close to wedding golf and the Cold War. There is research done about Black golfers, women golfers, white male golfers, and the country club, but none seek to achieve what this project does. The United States failed to utilize organizations such as the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour and the United Golfers Association to enhance its national image for political reasons. Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev was impressed by President Eisenhower's passion for golf. So much so that he picked up the sport himself. However, the connection made no lasting impact for the United States' Cold War efforts. The strict adherence to rigid social norms, including sexism and racism, prevented the United States from utilizing the luxuries of their society to sell capitalism on a global scale. Analysis of primary sources such as interviews, tournament records, government documents, speeches, letters, magazine articles, and advertisements served as crucial materials on which this research has been based. Secondary materials also aided in providing historical context to various chapters and made it clear what set this project apart from those before. Upon evaluation of these sources, my thesis was confirmed. American golf in the 1950s was largely reflective of American society at the time; both in a positive and a negative manner. Segregation of professional organizations led to an exclusive representation of the sport as a whole. Images of relaxation and luxury in American popular media catered to the white home exclusively; this extended to golf media. Black Americans had their own country clubs and communities that enjoyed golf together and the lifestyle that came along with it. Those stories were not told and were perceived to hold no value to the public mission of fighting communism and promoting capitalism. This research is significant in large part because of the geopolitical environment of today. The act of sportswashing has been continuously crafted and modified since well before the 1950s and is ever-present currently with the Saudi Arabian involvement in sports such as golf and soccer. Future endeavors into this subject area should aim to include the practice of sportswashing in a larger project about the employment of soft power tactics utilized by the United States during the Cold War. Personal interest in golf led to this project's creation but research questions surrounding other sports and the Cold War could also be asked and followed up on.Item Open Access A comparative analysis of accuracy and sensitivity in semen presumptive testing: ABAcard P30™, RSID Semen™, and Seratec PSA™(2024) Rogers, Heather; Williams, Rhonda C.; Porterfield, Cait; Jones, Fred; Smith, Stephen L.Semen presumptive tests are often used in forensics to detect the possible presence of semen on evidence from a crime scene. These tests work by identifying enzymes or proteins commonly found in semen, such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and semenogelin. However, presumptive tests can produce false positive results, as these biomarkers may also be present in other bodily fluids. Despite this limitation, some agencies still rely on presumptive test outcomes as a confirmation test for semen in legal proceedings. This study evaluated and compared the accuracy and sensitivity of three rapid immunochromatographic test kits for semen detection: Rapid Stain Identification Series (RSID) Semen™, Seratec PSA™, and ABAcard P30™. The RSID Semen™ test detects semenogelin, while Seratec PSA™ and ABAcard P30™ detect PSA. Samples tested included serial dilutions of semen, as well as an array of bodily fluids and materials that could potentially cause false positive results. All samples were tested in triplicate with each kit. The study found differences in sensitivity between the three test kits, with false positives occurring to some degree with all methods. RSID Semen™, Seratec PSA™, and ABAcard P30™ all had issues detecting semen in a 1:10,000 dilution. Additionally, RSID Semen™ could not detect semen when it was mixed with dirt. There was an issue of non-specificity with all three of the test kits with various absorbent hygiene products. RSID Semen™, Seratec PSA™, and ABAcard P30™ all had several false positive test results with tampons, menstrual pads with blood, and diapers with urine samples. Additionally, ABAcard P30™ had false positive test results with female urine samples. These findings highlight the need for caution when using presumptive semen test results, especially as primary evidence in legal cases. These test kits should no longer be used as a confirmatory test for semen in legal proceedings. The data generated will help forensics investigators determine which test kit may be most appropriate and reliable for detecting semen on different types of evidence, highlighting the potential for false results. Using precise testing methods is critical for drawing correct conclusions during criminal investigations. While Seratec PSA™ showed the highest sensitivity among the test kits evaluated, it had a concerning false positive rate of 12%, the highest rate observed. Of the three rapid semen detection kits compared, the ABAcard P30™ kit displayed the highest degree of accuracy. ABAcard P30™ had both the lowest false positive rate at 6% and the second-lowest false negative rate at 2% out of the kits tested, indicating superior sensitivity and specificity.Item Open Access Education policy and reform in the state of Oklahoma after 1950 and the achievement gaps of underserved student populations(2024) Nguyen, Meghan Nicole; Loughlin, Patricia, 1971-; Panther, Natalie; Diaz Montejo, MariaThe educational reform brought about by the U.S. federal government and the state of Oklahoma after 1950 perpetuated an already broken system rather than creating the needed change for all minority student populations across socioeconomic divides and ethnicities. While educational reform has been on the political agenda for every president since the 1960's debate between Kennedy and Nixon; the federal government has failed to positively influence student outcomes, specifically for those minorities of color and of the economically disadvantaged. Local, national, and global reports all point to the mediocracy of America's education system despite spending much more than most industrialized countries on education. The state of Oklahoma, a geographic anomaly, has an interesting educational history with progressive reforms and contradictory policies that have harmed minority student populations. It is here in Oklahoma that my research will find what state reform has done to affect minority students in the past 80 years.Item Open Access The detection and distribution of antidepressants in biological specimens(2024) Nemecek, Cene?; Jourdan, Thomas; Ciesielski, Austin; Cliburn, Kacey; Gamagedara, Sanjeewa; Jones, KeishaThis study developed and validated a method utilizing Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) paired with tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS) to detect and quantify thirteen antidepressants and metabolites in blood and various biological tissue samples from deceased pilots whose specimens were sent to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for toxicological analysis following autopsy. Validation was conducted using a modified version of American National Standards Institute/American Academy of Forensic Science Standards Board (ANSI/ASB) Standard 036, and included a calibration model, limit of detection, carryover, cross contribution, dilution integrity, drug interference, bias and precision, fluid and tissue controls, ion suppression/enhancement, recovery, process efficiency, stability, and measurement of uncertainty. Using a linear dynamic range of 200 times the lowest cutoff concentration, all analytes and matrices were successfully validated. Analytes were found to be stable at 4?C for at least four days, through at least three freeze/thaw cycles at -20?C, and on the instrument autosampler (10?C) for at least four days. Once this method was successfully developed and validated, Phase II consisted of a postmortem distribution study that examined citalopram and its N-desmethyl metabolite to determine the feasibility of relating a tissue drug concentration to the blood concentration, as well as a metabolite to drug ratio. The only correlations that could be established were the citalopram brain:blood ratio at 8.3 and the citalopram muscle:blood ratio at 1.6. Though other correlations were not established, notable trends were observed. Liver and lung had the highest concentrations of drug and metabolite, while spinal fluid and vitreous had the lowest. No metabolite to drug ratio correlation was established, although bile appeared to have the highest ratio at 1.3 while all other specimens were below 0.5, indicating a low concentration of metabolite present compared to the parent drug.Item Open Access Identification of geographic and cultural ancestry through chemical analysis of latent fingerprint residues(2024) Myers, Brynn; McCoy, Mark; Jourdan, Thomas; Porterfield, Cait; Yang, ZhiboThe permanence and uniqueness of fingerprints and the analysis of physical characteristics associated with fingerprints have allowed for the identification of individuals in forensic investigations. However, there is additional information that may be obtained from latent fingerprints. Fingerprint residues are comprised of chemical components - those which are created and secreted from the body naturally (endogenous) and those from products outside the body that are ingested or applied on the skin (exogeneous) - that have previously been used by researchers to identify an individual's age, gender, and even lifestyle. This information may be useful for the inclusion and exclusion of suspects when physical fingerprint characteristics may be unidentifiable or may be a means of adding additional information to preexisting physical characteristic analyses. However, there is currently no scientific literature regarding the ability to identify an individual's geographic and cultural ancestry through analysis of latent fingerprint residues. The purpose of this study was to identify a chemical pattern which might allow investigators to identify an individual's geographic and cultural ancestry through the analysis of latent fingerprint residues using Mass Spectrometry - specifically Desorption Electrospray Ionization - Mass Spectrometry - as a medium for analysis. Individuals from varying racial backgrounds (Hispanic, Asian, European, African, and Middle Eastern) were asked to deposit a single right index print onto a piece of Mylar film. Following collection of prints, samples were analyzed using the DESI Synapt G2 instrument. Results of the study indicated that identification of geographic and cultural ancestry based on latent fingerprint residues may be possible, but further study is needed. In most cases, it was seen that an individual has significant agreement of chemical residues within their fingerprints. However, for individuals of the same or even different geographic and cultural ancestries, there is less definitive results as to if the chemistry of their latent print residues are similar or significantly different. In total, no distinct observations can be made from the data obtained, and further investigation is required to establish any relationships between geographic and cultural ancestries and the chemistry of fingerprint residues.Item Open Access Orientalism in British policymaking: Gertrude Bell and the Iraq Mandate, 1921-1932(2024) Mannis, Kaitlyn L.; Magnusson, Andrew D.; Huneke, Erik G.; Springer, Michael S.In the wake of the First World War, the League of Nations established the mandate system to stabilize the territories that had, until recently, been under the control of Germany or the Ottoman Empire. It did so by assigning regions, known as "mandates," to member states, like Britain and France. The mandate system granted permission for these member states to control, influence, and administer a government in the mandated territory. This influence and occupation had a long-lasting impact, especially in the Middle East. This thesis examines how the British government employed Orientalists in order to better understand and thus dominate the people of Iraq. Of the many political officers that were invaluable participants and agents of empire, Gertrude Bell was a monumental player in this endeavor and aided the British by providing reports on the region and its people. I assert that Gertrude Bell is one of the best examples of an "Orientalist," as defined by Said: an expert on the Orient aiding in its domination and exploitation. This research relies heavily on Bell's reports to the British government, letters to family, and other published writings. Many scholars have mentioned Bell or Orientalism in their work on the Iraq mandate but have failed to examine their influence critically. I aim to provide a well-rounded analysis of Bell's influence as an Orientalist by focusing primarily on her official, governmental presence, rather than her personal life and letters, which has been the focus of other works.Item Open Access Roots of colonialism in Old English poetry(2024) Lee, Madelynn; Quoss-Moore, Rebecca M., 1988-; Huber, Kate; Weber, Reid; Pratt, BenjaminThe white nationalist ideologies that drove many colonialist efforts are often built off of a so-called Anglo-Saxon ideal, which involves appealing to Old English epics such as Beowulf as part of the foundation of national and racial origins. However, beyond the problematic associations with white supremacy, such postures towards Old English texts and Germanic culture of the era read race anachronistically into the past and ignore the actual cultural contexts these Old English texts are rooted in. Thus, the goal of this thesis project is to analyze Old English texts through a postcolonial lens, informed by Rambaran-Olm, Hsy, Miyashiro, Kim, and Ahmed. I also bring in the central concept of "Christendom" as defined by Harris and Mittman. Using close reading and comparative translation, I evaluate the Old English poems Genesis A & B, Judith, and Andreas through this postcolonial framework. In Chapter One, I analyze Genesis A & B, which calls attention to the importance of land to the migratory Germanic tribes, to inherited righteousness or wickedness through family lines, and to Christendom's efforts to connect the promise of Abraham to the Christians of the day. Chapter Two covers Judith, which focuses on how leadership is an important factor in the classification of humankind as righteous or wicked and on how these distinctions factor into future destination. Judith, with its positive depictions of Jews and Christian additions, also points to the idea of supersessionism. In Chapter Three, I address Andreas, which complicates the dichotomy of righteousness and wickedness by showing the righteous as flawed and the wicked as capable of transformation. As a conversion story featuring the salvation of an "uncivilized" group (the Mermedonians), there are also protocolonialist ideas that justify mass converting Indigenous and other non-Christian people groups. Taken all together, the themes in these three poems support my initial thesis that protocolonialist ideas are present in these texts, which provides deeper understanding of how nationalist and colonialist ideologies evolved over history and led to the rise of present-day white nationalism. My research is part of a growing trend of medieval literary scholarship: applying a postcolonial approach to tracing the roots of white nationalism. Christendom's classification of humankind, as demonstrated in these three poems as a division of the righteous and the wicked, also gives a frame to apply to other Old English texts. Specifically, the other biblically-inspired texts of the Junius Manuscript, Old English hagiographies like Elene, and epics that follow the apostles such as The Fate of the Apostles would be natural opportunities to explore further consistencies or challenges to these ideas.Item Open Access Quantitative assessment of barrel wear from solid copper bullets(2024) Hassett, Natali; Law, Eric; Mabry, John; Luehr, StephanieForensic firearm analysis is based on the principle that firearms impart individual characteristics on bullets and cartridge cases during the firing process, and these individual characteristics can be used to trace a bullet or cartridge case back to the firearm that shot it. For bullets, these characteristics are created by the features inside the barrel. However, these features are subject to change and wear, and this can lead to the inability to identify the firearm that shot a specific bullet. There are many ammunition types on the market, and each type may affect barrel features differently. Literature in the field primarily focuses on the effect of conventional ammunition (i.e., jacketed lead core). One study has been conducted on solid copper bullets, and it indicates that they may have a greater effect on barrel individual characteristics than conventional ammunition. The goal of this research was to determine how solid copper bullets affect barrel rifling characteristics after the successive firing of 500 rounds through a new Glock 19 Gen 5 with a Glock Marksman Barrel. From the 500 bullets, 68 were collected for further analysis. The first ten and last ten bullets were used to profile the barrel characteristics at the beginning and end of the study while every tenth bullet was collected to track any changes in the features. Three-dimensional scans of the land engraved areas (LEAs) were generated using the Cadre Forensics Versa system. Cadre Forensics' implementation of the Congruent Matching Profile Segments algorithm was used to compare the depths of the LEAs. The data were analyzed using the Kwiatkowski-Phillips-Schmidt-Shin time series test, and it showed that the data exhibit a significant decreasing trend. Based on the algorithm scores and visual examinations of the LEA scans and depth profiles, this study demonstrates that solid copper bullets have a significant effect on the individual characteristics within firearm barrels.Item Open Access Divine women's esteem in late antiquity and their later representations in literature(2024) Farley, Holly; Quoss-Moore, Rebecca M., 1988-; Huber, Kate; Canfield, JeaneenThe Late Antiquity period and the stories that emerged from it were some of the most impactful narratives for future authors and their writing. This period encompassed many types of communities, languages, social customs, and polytheistic religions. What scholars know of these subjects is limited; therefore, much of their expertise is through interdisciplinary research, analysis of existing texts, archaeological remains, and epigraphy. These areas of study have contributed to what we know about these civilizations, which help scholars understand these communities--particularly the roles of women and what their lives would have looked like compared to those of today. Authors also draw from this period for narrative inspiration, especially regarding women's roles in their stories. Three women characters from this period are The Morrigan, Signy, and Brynhild, women who played important roles within their sagas and myths but were portrayed differently in later literature to suit the author's needs. In Chapter One, I analyze The Morrigan, a Celtic Goddess, a woman who is accredited with fighting alongside the Tuatha de Danaan against the Firbolg in Irish Mythology. Later, she appears throughout Arthurian literature with many names, including Morgana or Morgan Le Fey; she is best known as King Arthur's bitter half-sister and is always desirous of finding a way to kill him out of petty spite. Chapter Two covers Signy, a seer and princess in the Saga of the Volsungs, an Icelandic Saga which centers around the heroic deeds of the men within her family. Through this analysis, I challenge why Signy was treated poorly by the men in her family and why this behavior contradicts what scholars understood about how respected women were during this period in Icelandic history. Chapter Three addresses Brynhild's role in Eddic poetry and the German poem the Nibelungenlied. Brynhild is a Valkyrie and Shieldmaiden of Odin, a woman gifted with divine abilities to bring those who died in battle to Valhalla, where their souls would rest forever with the gods. This significant rendering is vastly different from the portrayals of her life in later poetry, which opposes her role as an immortal woman. In every story, she loses her position amongst the Valkyrie and falls in love with a man, Sigurd, who does not love her in return. In summary, these women are intended to represent lost stories, narratives that were changed to fit the aspirations of the growing Christian and patriarchal proclivities of the cultures that followed their own. My research is part of a literary movement that desires to see these ancient stories of women conserved, acknowledge their popularity with authors through time, and, with this admittance, implore that their image be used in a manner that would be a credit to their original stories. There is much work ahead to continue to consider the roles of women in Late Antiquity and the ways that intervening texts might distort our views of the true spirit of these women. Through archival work and linguistic study, I can expand these ideas by exploring a more firsthand account of their lives within narratives that do not maintain an authentic portrayal.Item Open Access A combined method to locate and improve DNA recovery from fabrics(2024) Driever, Makenzie; Williams, Rhonda (Rhonda Clark); Jones, Keisha; Parks, MatthewThe purpose of this thesis project is to identify touch DNA on different clothing surfaces and improve DNA recovery and efficiency. This study undertook a multi-method approach to improve identify touch DNA on clothing and enhance recovery rates. The approach was initiated after Vacuum Metal Deposition (VMD) processing to visualize the location of DNA on the fabric's surface. The multi-method approach involved comparing wet-swab and M-Vac® techniques for DNA collection, evaluating silica-membrane-based (QIAmp™) and magnetic silica-based (DNA IQ™) DNA extraction methods, and gauging the efficacy of size exclusion chromatography in eliminating metal ions from VMD-processed DNA samples. Nine fabrics with duplicates, eighteen in total, were collected for processing. Dark colored fabrics were processed with silver and zinc, and the light-colored fabric samples were processed with gold and zinc. After collection, each sample fabric type had quadruplicates for statistical analysis. Results indicated that the multi-method approach did not apply a statistically significant effect on the concentration of DNA in a sample. The multi-method approach did apply a statistically significant effect on the number of allele peaks present in an electropherogram (p<0.05). QIAmp™, no size exclusion chromatography performed, and M-Vac® collection samples performed better than their respective counterparts in the general linear mixed effect model. A technique that employs the M-Vac® wet vacuum for gathering touch DNA samples, followed by DNA extraction utilizing the QIAmp™ kit, and bypasses size exclusion chromatography, can offer more detailed genetic profiles.Item Open Access The impact of contextual bias on novice examiners in firearms examinations and fingerprints analyses(2024) Derakhshan, Melissa; Schmitz, Jennifer; Porterfield, Cait; Murray, CynthiaDespite efforts to maintain objectivity in analysis and interpretations, bias and human error still impact forensic science. Diversity in the perspectives, ideologies, techniques, and experience of forensic scientists generates a lack of standardized systems and methodologies in the analysis of evidence and introduces bias into forensic science. This leads to complications regarding interpretation and can result in subjectivity being introduced into testimony. The literature discusses the importance of comprehending bias as a whole and its impact on various fields in forensic science. The use of subjective judgments can substantially influence the analysis of fingerprints, firearms, pathology, bite marks, and crime scenes. Subjectivity can occur due to previous contextual information being given to an individual prior to examination. Objective analysis is crucial for factual investigations and to prevent wrongful convictions. This study focuses on DNA contextual information and how it impacts the conclusions of novice analysts when analyzing firearms and fingerprints. In this study, twenty-one participants from a forensic science analysis lab course conducted bullet comparisons and eighteen participants from an advanced fingerprint course analyzed fingerprints. A randomly assigned between-subject Fisher's exact test was used to analyze the data. In the examination of both fingerprints and firearms, participants were given contextual information regarding a crime scene, a suspect in custody, and whether DNA found at the scene matched, did not match, or was unknown to be a match to the suspect. Fingerprint novices were then asked to analyze and compare an unknown fingerprint from the crime scene to one of the suspects known prints and firearms novices were asked to compare a bullet collected from the crime scene to a bullet fired from the suspect's weapon. Examiners were also asked to indicate their level of confidence in their conclusions. Results indicated that when novices were not provided contextual DNA information, they formed conclusions with 100% accuracy in both fingerprints and firearms examinations. Statistical analysis indicated that for the fingerprint task, there was no significant difference in the proportions of correct answers for all groups and no significant differences in the median confidence levels of participants in different groups. For the firearms task, there was also no significant difference in the proportions of correct answers for all groups. However, confidence levels for novices in the firearms task were significantly higher when no contextual DNA information was provided. In both fingerprints and firearms, participants had 100% accuracy in the conclusion when analyzing prints or bullets in the control group vs. lower percentages of accuracy in the experimental group in which participants were provided with DNA contextual information.Item Open Access Racial identification in colonial Latin America: social class in the visual form(2024) Combs, Brandon P.; Churchill, Lindsey Blake; Goulding, Marc; Diaz-Montejo, Maria; Lacher, KatrinaThis thesis will analyze the evolution of racial identity during the colonial period in Spanish Latin America and how Casta paintings in the seventeenth century led to the creation of a society based on social stratification originating from the mixing of races. The chapters of this thesis will track the evolution of how those of mixed racial heritage have been viewed in Latin American society. I also examine how the visual identification of "mixed race" has affected the social class or social status of people of mixed races during the Colonial period. This thesis will incorporate various literature regarding the origins of Casta paintings and their multifaceted meanings. This thesis will also examine the intersectionality of visual representation of race, gender, and religion. These visual forms of racial art set forth the foundation of a new social hierarchy based on the idea of Spanish purity of blood and the mixing of races. The aim of this thesis is to reveal how those of mixed races, especially in Latin American society, have faced oppressive social standing. I argue that many mixed-race individuals face a dual identity crisis in which they do not know which group or culture they are "supposed" to identify with or belong to. This marginalization has been inscribed and reinscribed through visual representations. Often those of mixed races are not allowed to fully participate in the advantages or disadvantages of at least one of their races. Historians and scholars have deemed this the crisis of "dual identity." With this thesis, I provide insight into the daily struggles of identifying as a mixed marginalized group in a society that emphasized racial difference and hierarchy. I also explore the intersections of this hierarchy with gender. Finally, this thesis explores the difficulties of attempting to identify as one race or another and the social struggles that emerge for people of mixed race.