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(1 - 5 of 5)
- Title
- A Preliminary Assessment of Steroid Reproductive Hormones in Archaeological Human Hair Utilizing a Modified Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Technique.
- Creator
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Tisdale, Elisha, Schultz, John, Williams, Lana, Wheeler, Sandra, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Hair has become an invaluable resource in forensic, clinical, and bioarchaeological research. The unique interaction between the growing hair fiber, the hair follicle, and the endocrine system inundates the growing hair fiber with an incremental record of many of the discreet physiological processes of the body. Recently, a novel study by Webb et al. (2010) demonstrated that endogenous records of cortisol, the (")stress hormone("), are capable of being extracted from archaeological human hair...
Show moreHair has become an invaluable resource in forensic, clinical, and bioarchaeological research. The unique interaction between the growing hair fiber, the hair follicle, and the endocrine system inundates the growing hair fiber with an incremental record of many of the discreet physiological processes of the body. Recently, a novel study by Webb et al. (2010) demonstrated that endogenous records of cortisol, the (")stress hormone("), are capable of being extracted from archaeological human hair through a modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique, thus providing insight into the (")invisible(") stress experiences of an individual that would otherwise not be detectable through skeletal analysis. The present study seeks to apply this novel ELISA technique to archaeological hair to determine whether endogenous patterns of secretion are detectable for the steroid reproductive hormones estradiol and testosterone. Here, hair from 10 individuals from the Kellis 2 cemetery in the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt is analyzed for endogenous concentrations of the steroid hormones cortisol, estradiol, and testosterone. A control sample consisting of hair from 10 modern cadavers is also assessed for each hormone to ensure method efficacy. Cortisol, estradiol, and testosterone were successfully identified in all 10 archaeological individuals and in each of the 10 individuals in the modern control group. Results revealed that archaeological preservation of each hormone was favorable, and incremental patterning of each hormone seem to reflect endogenous hormone secretion in life. Values for cortisol, estradiol in pre-menopausal females, and testosterone extracted from the archaeological and modern control samples fall within reference values taken from archaeological and clinical research; however, estradiol values for males and postmenopausal females exceeded projected reference values. Explorations for variables which could contribute to discrepancies between reported and observed estradiol values are provided, along with two case studies on female individuals from the archaeological sample. The results of this study demonstrate that steroid reproductive hormones can be preserved in archaeological human hair, and that these hormones can be analyzed to create additional lines of inquiry into bioarcheological studies of ancient health and fertility.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- Identifier
- CFE0006921, ucf:51700
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006921
- Title
- MY BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL: A STUDY OF HOW HAIR IS PORTRAYED IN CHILDREN'S AND YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE.
- Creator
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Webley, Quacy-Ann, Kaplan, Jeffery, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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This research seeks to examine how authors represent Black/African-American beauty in children's literature. To conduct my research, I have chosen to review Natasha Tarpley's I Love My Hair and Carolivia Herron's Nappy Hair in conjunction with Zora Neale Hurston's young adult novel Their Eyes Were Watching God. The objective of my thesis aims to highlight the emphasis authors place on Black/African-American children's hair and the cultural differences in their perceptions of Afro-beauty....
Show moreThis research seeks to examine how authors represent Black/African-American beauty in children's literature. To conduct my research, I have chosen to review Natasha Tarpley's I Love My Hair and Carolivia Herron's Nappy Hair in conjunction with Zora Neale Hurston's young adult novel Their Eyes Were Watching God. The objective of my thesis aims to highlight the emphasis authors place on Black/African-American children's hair and the cultural differences in their perceptions of Afro-beauty. Today, society expends extensive time and interest in outward appearances through media: television, radio, digital media, and fashion magazines. As a result, Black/African-American adolescent and teen girls become overly concerned with their beauty and face extreme pressure to fit into the dominant cultures definition of beauty: �lighter skin, slender nose, slim body frame, and straight hair.' Black/African-American girls who fall short of the prescribed characteristics of beauty become psychologically impaired with their self-confidences; sometimes refusing to embrace their own features or invest extensively in beauty care products to conform to the dominant beliefs of beauty. I have provided a summary of the focused literature for the benefit of readers who not have had the opportunity to read the previously mentioned texts along with a sample lesson plan.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- Identifier
- CFH0004818, ucf:45450
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004818
- Title
- GOING NATURAL: AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN AND THEIR HAIR.
- Creator
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Dennis, Brittney, Gay, David, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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The study seeks to gain a better understanding of the term "going natural" in regards to women with natural African American hair. The study also seeks to understand natural hair and reclaiming a positive perspective of acceptance and natural appearance. The study will give light to what it is to have natural hair in present day and calls upon the experience of the Black woman on her journey with her hair and her past.
- Date Issued
- 2012
- Identifier
- CFH0004278, ucf:44964
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004278
- Title
- Intrinsic Factors Affecting Decomposition Changes in Archaeological Head Hair from Kellis 2 Cemetery, Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt.
- Creator
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Cole, Kathleen, Dupras, Tosha, Williams, Lana, Groff, Amanda, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Post-mortem hair root degradation, and associated characteristics such as post-mortem root banding, brush-like ends, and hard keratin points, has remained a little understood phenomenon in the forensics discipline since its discovery in the 1800's. At present, the underlying causes of these characteristics are still unknown. In addition, there is no standardization for preparing samples for forensic or archaeological analysis. In this study, 1200 hairs from a total of 51 individuals (males, n...
Show morePost-mortem hair root degradation, and associated characteristics such as post-mortem root banding, brush-like ends, and hard keratin points, has remained a little understood phenomenon in the forensics discipline since its discovery in the 1800's. At present, the underlying causes of these characteristics are still unknown. In addition, there is no standardization for preparing samples for forensic or archaeological analysis. In this study, 1200 hairs from a total of 51 individuals (males, n = 22; females, n = 29) ranging in age from 16 to 60+ and interred at the Kellis 2 cemetery in the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt are examined microscopically for evidence of post-mortem hair root degradation. These remains date from ~50AD to ~450AD, and all were naturally mummified. The purposes of this thesis are two-fold; 1) to determine the efficacy of two preparation methods, and 2) to examine the intrinsic and extrinsic variables in each hair in order to ascertain the factors that affect the degradation of the human hair root after death. The preparation methods include a dry sample, where the hair is directly removed from the scalp tissue using tweezers, and a wet sample, where a 1cm portion of the scalp was first rehydrated using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for 48 hours before the hairs were extracted. Results indicate that when working with naturally mummified remains the wet method provides for easier acquisition of the sample and less chance of breakage before the hair is mounted for observation. This, therefore, provides a larger sample size for analysis.Each hair was observed using polarizing microscopy to determine whether postmortem root degradation was present, the growth stage of the hair, color, pigment density and distribution, pigment aggregate size and shape, medulla continuity and opacity, cuticle scale profile and thickness, inner cuticle margin, and the presence of ovoid bodies. Significant correlations were found between the incidence of postmortem root degradation and the growth stage, hair color, cuticle thickness, cuticle scale profile, and individual's age. The remaining variables did not show any significant correlations.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- Identifier
- CFE0006577, ucf:51342
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006577
- Title
- Preliminary Investigation into Biological Sex Estimation Using Trace Element Analysis in Human Hair.
- Creator
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Woltering, Abigail, Dupras, Tosha, Williams, Lana, Schultz, John, Starbuck, John, Baudelet, Matthieu, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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In forensic anthropology the estimation of biological sex of unidentified human remains is critical, as it essentially halves the number of potential identities. Sex estimation is also important in bioarchaeology, because the creation of the biological profile is critical to the interpretation of different sociocultural aspects of past populations. Furthermore, certain aspects of the biological profile are sex specific, so it is important to be able to accurately determine biological sex ...
Show moreIn forensic anthropology the estimation of biological sex of unidentified human remains is critical, as it essentially halves the number of potential identities. Sex estimation is also important in bioarchaeology, because the creation of the biological profile is critical to the interpretation of different sociocultural aspects of past populations. Furthermore, certain aspects of the biological profile are sex specific, so it is important to be able to accurately determine biological sex (France 1998). Typically, biological sex is estimated by assessing sexually dimorphic differences within the pelvis and skull. However, because sexually dimorphic differences arise during puberty it is difficult, and oftentimes impossible, to use these traditional techniques on juveniles. Recently, human hair has gained prominence in anthropological research. This is particularly evident in bioarchaeology, where hair can be used to discern information concerning health, toxicology, culture, and diet of past populations. This study focuses on the relationship between the content of trace elements in hair and biological sex to determine if biological sex can be assessed from the content of trace elements in human head hair. Hair was collected from three human sample groups: modern living individuals, modern cadavers, and archaeological remains. Data on trace elements was collected using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). The statistical relationship between the content of trace elements and sex was then analyzed using a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), post-hoc analysis of variance (ANOVAs), and stepwise binary logistic regression. The MANOVA revealed a statistically significant multivariate main effect for sample group using mean values (p-value (<) 0.0001) and mean variance values (MVs) (p-value = 0.018). Given the significant results of the MANOVA test, the univariate main effects were examined with post-hoc ANOVA tests. Significant univariate main effects were obtained for mean values for C/Mg (p-value (<) 0.0001), C/Fe (p-value (<) 0.0001), C/Ca (p-value (<) 0.0001), and C/Sr (p-value (<) 0.0001). Significant univariate main effects were obtained for MVs for C/Mg (p-value = 0.016), C/Fe (p-value = 0.010), and C/Sr (p-value = 0.042). These preliminary results demonstrate that biological sex of humans can be accurately estimated through trace elemental analysis approximately 85% of the time in living samples, and 79% of the time overall. The results also demonstrate the viability of this technique for sex estimation in juvenile remains with approximately 83% success in predicting juvenile biological sex. This sets the stage establishing trace elemental analysis of hair as a technique for estimating biological sex which is critical to forensic individuation and identification as well as further contextualization of archaeological remains.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- Identifier
- CFE0006705, ucf:51928
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006705
