Suchergebnisse

Teams from São Paulo Criminalistics Institute receive chainsaws allegedly involving deforestation in preservation areas. Here, we aimed to examine wood and bark sawdust from chainsaws to determine the potential of differentiating materials from Araucaria angustifolia (native), Pinus spp. and Eucalyptus spp. (exotic). Such knowledge is crucial in the elucidation of environmental crimes, particularly where occurs A. angustifolia, a species at risk of extinction. We obtained samples of adult tree trunks from A. angustifolia, Pinus spp., Eucalyptus spp., and Corymbia citriodora. Our reference samples of wood and bark came from material used in other studies by the Instituto Florestal team. In a blinded manner, we took sawdust samples of A. angustifolia, Pinus caribaea and Eucalyptus grandis and tagged with codes. We prepared all samples based on the standard methodology for wood and bark maceration. Then, we prepared histological slides and comparatively analyzed several slides under light microscopy. Results show that it is possible to obtain cell fragments useful in separating the groups of plants studied. For example, tracheids on the cell walls of A. angustifolia have polygonal pits, with two or more alternating pits, while on Pinus spp., circular pits are observed, usually with uniseriate pits on the radial walls and opposing pits in the case of more than one row. Moreover, vessel elements and fibres can only be found in the wood fragments of Eucalyptus spp. Bark cells and cells from immature tissues also serve as corroborative evidence.

A megadiversidade de plantas no território brasileiro representa um grande potencial forense. No entanto, conhecimentos botânicos estabelecidos há séculos são esporadicamente empregados em procedimentos forenses. A Botânica Forense, em particular o estudo da morfologia externa e interna (anatomia) das plantas, possibilita a caracterização de amostras e a identificação da espécie, oferecendo grande auxílio para o embasamento de linhas investigativas e, em alguns casos, configurando-se como importante prova material. Nas perícias de crimes violentos letais intencionais, como homicídio, execução sumária, estupro e roubo seguido de morte, é comum se encontrarem folhas ou fragmentos foliares aderidos a solas de calçado e tapetes de veículos de suspeitos. Confrontar esses vestígios com as amostras de folhas e fragmentos foliares do local de crime pode representar a única alternativa de materialidade, na falta de impressões dígito-papilares, pegadas ou material biológico humano. Neste estudo de caso, apresentamos três exames de confronto de amostras vegetais em investigações de roubo seguido de morte e execução sumária no Estado de São Paulo. Folhas e fragmentos foliares do local de crime foram comparados com folhas e fragmentos foliares de peças associadas ao(s) suspeito(s) a partir da observação da morfologia externa e da anatomia. Em todos os casos foi possível obter informações sobre a morfologia externa e, principalmente, sobre a anatomia dos fragmentos foliares, permitindo realizar comparações e apresentar como resultados dois confrontos negativos e um confronto parcialmente positivo. A experiência obtida com esses exames revelou que o planejamento das coletas de amostras botânicas nos locais de crime condiciona a interpretação dos resultados.

<b><i>Background:</i></b> The goal of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to determine the effect of diet on telomere length. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We searched the following databases: MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS, CINAHL, ISI Web of Science, and Scopus, as well as the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and the National Institutes of Health, from inception to December 2016. Articles that assessed effects of diet on telomere length were included. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A total of 2,128 studies were identified, 30 were read in full, and 7 were systematically reviewed. Five RCTs were included in the meta-analysis, covering 9 diets; a total of 533 participants were included. Study heterogeneity (<i>I</i>²) was 89%, and differences were not identified regarding average telomere lengths (mean difference 1.06; 95% CI –1.53 to 3.65). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The available evidence suggests that there is no effect of diet on telomere length, but the strong heterogeneity in the type and duration of dietary interventions does not allow any final statement on the absence of an effect of diet on telomere length.