A investigação criminal e a vedação ao anonimato no sistema jurídico brasileiro

The thesis, prepared with basis on deductive reasoning (through the utilization of general concepts of the fundamental rights theory) and on inductive logic (by means of the consideration of particular situations in which the theme has been approached) deals with the criminal investigation and the prohibition of anonymity in the Brazilian law system. The state criminal investigation activity presents not only a substantial constitutional basis, due to the objective dimension of fundamental rights (which imposes an obligation to protect these essential values), but also a formal constitutional basis, arising from the administrative principles of rule of law, morality and efficiency, referred to in article 37 of the Constitution. The criminal investigation, however, is not an unlimited pursuit, being restrained by the duty to consider fundamental rights that oppose to its realization. One of the limits of the state investigation activity, in the Brazilian law system, is the prohibition of anonymity, referred to in article 5°, IV, of the Constitution. This prohibition is a direct constitutional restriction to the freedom of expression that aims to ensure the credibility of the diffusion of ideas and prevent the abusive exercise of this fundamental right, which could harm both persons and the state, with no possibility of punishment to the offending party. Generally, based on this prohibition, it is affirmed that a criminal investigation cannot begin and progress founded on anonymous communication of crimes. Informations about crimes to the investigative authorities require the correct identification of the stakeholders. Therefore, it is sustained that the prohibition of anonymity also comprehends the prohibition of utilization of pseudonyms and heteronyms. The main purpose of this essay is to recognize the limits and possibilities in starting and conducting criminal investigations based on communication of crimes made by unidentified persons, behind the veil of anonymity or hidden by pseudonyms or heteronyms. Although the prohibition of article 5°, IV, of the Constitution is not submitted to direct or indirect constitutional restrictions, this impediment can be object of mitigation in certain cases, in attention to the constitutional values that support state investigation. The pertinence analysis of the restrictions to the constitutional anonymity prohibition must consider the proportionality, integrated by the partial elements of adequacy, necessity and strict sense proportionality. The criminal investigation is a means to achieve a purpose, the protection of fundamental rights, because the disclosure of facts, through the investigatory activity, gives rise to the accomplishment of measures in order to prevent or punish the violations eventually verified. So, the start and the development of the state criminal investigation activity, based on a crime communication carried out by an unidentified person, will depend on the demonstration that the setting up and continuity of an investigation procedure, in each case, are an adequate, necessary and (in a strict sense) proportional means to the protection of fundamental rights

Proteomic analysis of dog tears for potential cancer markers

The first reference map of the proteome of pooled normal dog tears was created using 2-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the identity of a number of the major species determined using matrix-assisted laser desorption time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) and peptide mass fingerprint matching on protein sequence databases. In order to understand the changes in protein expression in the tear film of dogs with cancer, tears from such animals were similarly examined. A number of differences were found between the tears of healthy dogs and the dogs with cancer. Differences were found in levels of actin and albumin and in an unidentified protein which may be analogous to human lacryglobulin. These findings suggest that it may be possible to develop tear film analysis to provide a simple non-invasive test for the diagnosis and/or management of canine cancers. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Lepidopterans and their parasitoids on okra plants in Riberao Preto (SP, Brazil)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Patogenicidade de Steinernema carpocapsae (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) ao Cupim de Montículo Cornitermes cumulans (Isoptera: Termitidae)

Cornitermes cumulans is a termite species often found in pastures of Brazil, mainly in the most degraded ones. Chemical control has been the most recommended method against this insect pest, but control measures are usually avoided by farmers. Biocontrol of termites with entomopathogenic fungi and possibly with entomopathogenic nematodes have been considered promising techniques, being recommended for use in several countries. This study aimed to evaluate the pathogenicity of Steinernema carpocapsae (an unidentified isolate) against C cumulans castes (workers and soldiers). Three experiments were done, one using Petri dishes, with daily evaluations, and two others in artificial colonies (with workers and soldiers). For one of the experiments in artificial colonies, nematode suspensions (167 and 333 infective juveniles (IJ) per insect) were applied over the food supplied to the termites. For the other experiment, nematode suspensions (133, 267 and 533 IJ per insect) were applied directly over the artificial termite colonies. In these two experiments evaluations were done 1, 5 and 9 days after nematode application. Each dead insect was dissected for nematode verification. S. carpocapsae was highly pathogenic to both castes of C cumulans in all experiments.

Avaliação, identificação e atividade enzimática de bactérias psicotróficas presentes no leite cru refrigerado

Extended storage of refrigerated milk can lead to reduced quality of raw and processed milk, which is a consequence of the growth and metabolic activities of psychrotrophic bacteria, able to grow under 7oC or lower temperatures. Although most of these microorganisms are destroyed by heat treatment, some have the potential to produce termoresistant proteolytic and lipolytic enzymes that can survive even UHT processing and reduce the processed products quality. Recently, the IN 51 determineds that milk should be refrigerated and stored at the farm what increased the importance of this group of microorganisms. In this work, psychrotrophic bacteria were isolated from 20 communitarian bulk tanks and 23 individual bulk tanks from dairy farms located at Zona da Mata region of Minas Gerais State and from southeastern Rio de Janeiro. Selected milk dilutions were plated on standard agar and after incubation for 10 days at 7oC, five colonies were isolated, firstly using nutrient agar and after using McConkey agar for 24 hours at 21oC. The isolates were identified by morphology, Gram stain method, catalase production, fermentative/oxidative metabolism and by API 20E, API 20NE, API Staph, API Coryne or API 50 CH (BioMerieux). In order to ensure reproductibility, API was repeated for 50% of the isolates. Species identification was considered when APILAB indexes reached 75% or higher. 309 strains were isolated, 250 Gram negative and 59 Gram positive. 250 Gram negative isolates were identified as: Acinetobacter spp. (39), Aeromonas spp. (07), A. Hydrophila (16), A. sobria (1), A. caviae (1), Alcaligenes feacalis (1), Burkholderia cepacia (12), Chryseomonas luteola (3), Enterobacter sp. (1), Ewingella americana(6), Hafnia alvei (7), Klebsiella sp. (1), Klebsiella oxytoca (10), Yersinia spp. (2), Methylobacterium mesophilicum (1), Moraxella spp. (4), Pantoea spp. (16), Pasteurella sp. (1), Pseudomonas spp. (10), P. fluorescens (94), P. putida (3), Serratia spp. (3), Sphigomonas paucomobilis (1). Five isolates kept unidentified. Pseudomonas was the predominant bacteria found (43%) and P. fluorescens the predominant species (37.6%), in accordance with previous reports. Qualitative analysis of proteolytic and lipolytic activity was based on halo formation using caseinate agar and tributirina agar during 72 hours at 21oC and during 10 days at 4°C, 10oC and 7°C. Among 250 Gram negative bacteria found, 104 were identified as Pseudomonas spp. and 60,57% of this group showed proteolytic and lipolytic acitivities over all four studied temperatures. 20% of Acinetobacter, Aeromonas, Alcaligenes, Burkholderia, Chryseomonas, Methylobacterium, Moraxella presented only lipolytic activity. Some isolates presented enzymatic activity in one or more studied temperatures. Among Gram positive bacteria, 30.51% were proteolytic and lipolytic at 10oC, 8.47% were proteolytic at 7oC, 10oC, and 21oC, 8.47% were proteolytic at all studied temperatures (4oC, 7oC, 10oC and 21oC) and 3.38% were proteolytic only at 21oC. At 4oC, only one isolate showed proteolytic activity and six isolates were lipolytic. In relation to Gram negative microorganisms, 4% were proteolytic and lipolytic at 7oC, 10oC and 21oC, 10% were proteolytic at 10oC and 4.4% were lipolytic at 4oC, 7oC, 10oC and 21oC, while 6.4% of all isolates were proteolytic and lipolytic at 10oC and 21oC as well as lipolytic at 4oC and 7oC. These findings are in accordance with previous researches that pointed out Pseudomonas as the predominant psycrotrophic flora in stored refrigerated raw milk

Structural analysis of the Pimelodus maculatus (Lacépède, 1803) embryogenesis (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

DSC studies on crystallization mechanisms of tellurite glasses

The purpose of this work is to study the 20Li(2)O-80TeO(2) glass using the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques in order to understand the crystallization kinetics on this glass matrix. To study the glass by DSC, screened samples with different particle sizes to resolve the observed asymmetrical crystallization peak were used. DSC curves for particles smaller than 38 mum in size show two distinct crystallization peaks, associated to distinct phase transformation in this glass, leading to activation energies at 301 and 488 kJ mol(-1). XRD analysis reveals that the first crystallization peak is attributed to TeO2 crystalline phase while the second one to the alpha-TeO3 and an unidentified phase.(C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A report of 49 cases of cnidarian envenoming from southeastern Brazilian coastal waters

Forty-nine accidents caused by jellyfish (Cnidaria) were observed during a period of 5 years on the southeastern coast of Brazil. Most of them involved male patients (65.3%), the injured areas being mainly the legs (71.3%) and the trunk (65.3%). Twenty accidents with Chiropsalmus quadrumanus, four with Physalia physalis and 20 with unidentified jellyfish presented intense pain, linear plaques and systemic symptoms. The five cases with Olindias sambaquiensis caused mild pain, round plaques and no systemic symptoms. There are a few reports on accidents caused by jellyfish, in this country, and scarce clinical or epidemiological data are available up to the present moment. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

First detection of the equine herpesvirus 1 neuropathogenic variant in Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Condições de trabalho e transtornos mentais comuns em trabalhadores da rede básica de saúde de Botucatu (SP)

Os transtornos mentais comuns (TMC) apresentam elevada prevalência em populações gerais e de trabalhadores, com consequências individuais e sociais importantes. Este estudo, transversal e descritivo, explora a relação entre demandas psicológicas, grau de controle e presença de suporte social no trabalho e prevalência de TMC em trabalhadores da rede básica de saúde de Botucatu (SP). A coleta de dados foi feita por meio de questionário autoaplicável, não identificado, com destaque para itens relativos à demanda-controle-suporte e presença de TMC (Self Reporting Questionnaire, SRQ-20). As informações foram inseridas em banco de dados construído com Excel/Office XP 2003 e a análise estatística, efetuada com o programa SAS. Constatou-se que 42,6% dos trabalhadores apresentavam TMC. A observação de associação - alta prevalência de TMC com elevado desgaste (classificação de Karasek) e baixa prevalência de TMC com baixo desgaste - indica que, no município estudado, as condições de trabalho na atenção básica constituem fator contributivo não negligenciável ao adoecimento dos trabalhadores. Revela-se a necessidade de intervenções direcionadas ao cuidado aos trabalhadores, melhoria das condições de trabalho e aumento do suporte social no trabalho.

Influence of Viral Infection on Essential Oil Composition of Ocimum basilicum (Lamiaceae)

Ocimum basilicum L., popularly known as sweet basil, is a Lamiaceae species whose essential oil is mainly composed of monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and phenylpropanoids. The contents of these compounds can be affected by abiotic and biotic factors such as infections caused by viruses. The main goal of this research was an investigation of the effects of viral infection on the essential oil profile of common basil. Seeds of O. basilicum L. cv. Genovese were sowed and kept in a greenhouse. Plants presenting two pairs of leaves above the cotyledons were inoculated with an unidentified virus isolated from a field plant showing chlorotic yellow spots and foliar deformation. Essential oils of healthy and infected plants were extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GCMS. Changes in essential oil composition due to viral infection were observed. Methyleugenol and p-cresol,2,6-di-tert-butyl were the main constituents. However, methyleugenol contents were significantly decreased in infected plants.

Structural insights for fatty acid binding in a Lys49-phospholipase A(2): crystal structure of myotoxin II from Bothrops molojeni complexed with stearic acid

The crystal structure of dimeric Lys49-phospholipase A2 myotoxin-II from Bothrops moojeni (MjTX-II) co-crystallized with stearic acid (C18H36O2) has been determined at a resolution of 1.8 angstrom. The electron density maps permitted the unambiguous inclusion of six stearic acid molecules in the refinement. Two stearic acid molecules could be located in the substrate-binding cleft of each monomer in positions, which favor the interaction of their carboxyl groups with active site residues. The way of binding of stearic acids to this Lys49-PLA(2)s is analogous to phospholipids and transition state analogues to catalytically active PLA(2)s. Two additional stearic acid molecules were located at the dimer interface region, defining a hitherto unidentified acyl-binding site on the protein surface. The strictly conserved Lys122 for Lys49-PLA(2)s may play a fundamental role for stabilization of legend-protein complex. The comparison of MjTX-II/satiric acid complex with other Lys-PLA(2)s structures whose putative fatty acids were located at their active site is also analysed. Molecular details of the stearic acid/protein interactions provide insights to binding in croup I/II PLA(2)s and to the possible interactions of Lys49-PLA(2)s with target membranes. (c) 2004 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.

Probing the Specificity of Binding to the Major Nuclear Localization Sequence-binding Site of Importin-alpha Using Oriented Peptide Library Screening

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Phylogenetic analysis of PRP8 intein in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis species

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Pterygosomatidae and Trombiculidae mites infesting Tropidurus hispidus (Spix, 1825) (Tropiduridae) lizards in northeastern Brazil

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)