Local plant use and traditional conservation practices in Nhema communal area,Zimbabwe

Abstract

This article is based on a study that was carried out in Nhema communal area in Midlands Province, Zimbabwe, with the main objective of documenting local plant use and traditional conservation practices. Data collected through household semi-structured and open interviews showed that 46 plant species in 40 genera and 24 families were mainly used for firewood, construction wood, food and traditional medicine. Other minor uses included using plant species for making mats, rope and shading. Firewood and construction wood ranked as the most important tree products used. The preferred plant species included: Julbernardia globiflora (Mutondo); Brachystegia spiciformis (Musasa); Terminalia sericea (Mususu); Brachystegia boehmii (Mupfuti); Combretum imberbe (Mutsviri); Combretum molle (Mubondo) and Burkea africana (Mukarati). Some of the highly preferred species, considered to be declining in the local environment, included Adenium obesum (Chisvosve); Azanza garckeana (Mutohwe); Brachystegia boehmii (Mupfuti); Brachystegia spiciformis (Musasa); Burkea africana (Mukarati); Combretum imberbe (Mutsviri); Combretum molle (Mubondo); Dalbergia melanoxylon (Mukonashanhu); Diospyros mespiliformis (Musuma); Elephantorrhiza goetzei (Ntorani); Julbernardia globiflora (Mutondo); Phragmites australis (Shanga; Poulzozia hypoleuca (Munanzwa); Pterocarpus angolensis (Mubvamaropa); Terminalia sericea (Mususu) and Uapaca kirkiana (Muzhanje). Highly preferred and declining species were characteristically large trees and shrubs. Local people are aware of the need to conserve plant resources in order to protect the environment and avoid the extinction of these rare species.Traditional conservation practices have substantially contributed to the conservation of plant species in Nhema communal area. The protection of indigenous timber, fruit trees, trees with social and cultural significance, the use of deadwood for firewood, the use of eucalyptus trees as construction wood and the occurrence of sacred woodland areas represented some of the traditional conservation techniques employed in Nhema communal area. These local practices demonstrate the dynamism and significance of African indigenous knowledge systems.     

Traditional health practitioners' practices and the sustainability of extinction-prone traditional medicinal plants

ABSTRACT

For centuries, traditional health practitioners (THPs) have used their indigenous knowledge (IK) in conserving medicinal plants and environments in order to maintain sustainability. Medicinal plants have played an important role in the healthcare system of Africa. With the rapid environmental, social, economic and political changes occurring in many areas inhabited by rural people, the danger exists that the loss of biodiversity from habitat destruction and unsustainable harvesting practices will cause some species to become extinct, threatening the availability of medicinal plants on a regional level. This article presents the findings of research conducted to investigate the sustainability of the harvesting practices of THPs, with specific reference to extinction-prone traditional medicinal plants in the study areas of the Limpopo province, South Africa. The main aim of the study was to determine the natural habitat of extinction-prone traditional medicinal plants, combining the insight of THPs with the ultimate goal of guiding research for the conservation, propagation and cultivation of traditional medicinal plants. The study adopted a qualitative research approach and data were collected using in-depth interviews. The findings indicate that the THPs’ practices are shaped by historical processes and local cultural values, social norms and their management strategies, which are influenced by a broad range of factors.     

Measurement of Postmortem Pupil Size: A New Method with Excellent Reliability and Its Application to Pupil Changes in the Early Postmortem Period

Measurement of postmortem pupil width is a potential component of death time estimation. However, no standardized measurement method has been described. We analyzed a total of 71 digital images for pupil–iris ratio using the software ImageJ. Images were analyzed three times by four different examiners. In addition, serial images from 10 cases were taken between 2 and 50 h postmortem to detect spontaneous pupil changes. Intra‐ and inter‐rater reliability of the method was excellent (ICC > 0.95). The method is observer independent and yields consistent results, and images can be digitally stored and re‐evaluated. The method seems highly eligible for forensic and scientific purposes. While statistical analysis of spontaneous pupil changes revealed a significant polynomial of quartic degree for postmortem time (p = 0.001), an obvious pattern was not detected. These results do not indicate suitability of spontaneous pupil changes for forensic death time estimation, as formerly suggested.     

Effect of Different Attentional Conditions on ERP Detection of Visual AcuityCSCD

Objective: To study the effect of different attentional conditions on the event-related potential (ERP) components generated by the visual information stimuli related to visual acuity, and provide a theoretical reference for clinical forensic visual objective evaluation. Methods: With visual acuity optotypes as normal form of visual information stimuli, 15 volunteers as study subjects were supposed to account the visual acuity optotypes under the attentional condition of visual stimuli. Furthermore, the subjects were required to listen to the storytelling carefully under the non-attentional condition of visual stimuli, and after the examination, they needed to answer the story-related questions. All the EEG results of two different attentional conditions from the subjects were recorded by 32 channel ERP system. Results: Under two attentional conditions, P1 and P300 components were evoked by the visual acuity optotypes on supra-threshold and threshold visual acuity levels, while only P1 component were evoked by the visual acuity optotypes on sub-threshold levels. In the ERP waveforms evoked by the visual acuity optotypes on supra-threshold, P1 and P300 amplitudes under attentional condition were larger than that under non-attentional condition. Conclusion: Attentional conditions can influence the detection of visual acuity. P300 component can be used to distinguish the visual acuity levels with supra-threshold and subthreshold under non-attentional condition. © 2017 by the Editorial Department of Journal of Forensic Medicine.     

109例外伤性视损害的法医学分析

目的对外伤性视力损害的类型,机制及法医学鉴定进行分析。方法收集109例外伤性视损害案例,回顾性分析其两眼视差、屈光参差、受伤眼别、视力分布等项目。结果男女比例5.8:1,多见于30~59岁;单、双眼受伤的比例17.17:1,故意伤害案左、右眼受伤的比例1.39:1;受伤眼115目,83目达低视力或盲程度;两眼视力之差≥3行视标的95人(87.16%);屈光参差2.25D~6.00D的9人,6.00D的23人。结论两眼视差、屈光参差等问题在鉴定实践中并不少见,但我国鉴定标准尚未涉及,建议制定相关标准时关注双眼整体功能。     

法医学研究中的伦理审查建设

法医学研究伦理审查既是法医学研究管理工作的内容,也是法医学研究的对象,本文针对法医学研究中的伦理审查问题,论述开展伦理审查的必要性,并对法医学研究伦理审查委员会建设指导原则进行探讨,呼吁开展伦理审查建设。     

Fourier-transformed infrared breath testing after ingestion of technical alcohol

The study aim was to evaluate the feasibility of a Fourier-transformed infrared (FT-IR) analyzer for out-of-laboratory use by screening the exhalations of inebriated individuals, and to determine analysis quality using common breath components and solvents. Each of the 35 inebriated participants gave an acceptable sample. Because of the metabolism of 2-propanol, the subjects exhaled high concentrations of acetone in addition to ethanol. Other volatile ingredients of technical ethanol products (methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, and 2-propanol) were also detected. The lower limits of quantification for the analyzed components ranged from 1.7 to 12 microg/L in simulated breath samples. The bias was +/-2% for ethanol and -11% for methanol. Within-day and between-day coefficients of variation were <1% for ethanol and <4% for methanol. The bias of ethanol and methanol analyses due to coexisting solvents ranged from -0.8 to +2.2% and from -5.6 to +2.9%, respectively. The FT-IR method proved suitable for use outside the laboratory and fulfilled the quality criteria for analysis of solvents in breath.     

Age determination of blood spots in forensic medicine by force spectroscopy

We present a new tool for the estimation of the age of bloodstains, which could probably be used during forensic casework. For this, we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) for high-resolution imaging of erythrocytes in a blood sample and the detection of elasticity changes on a nanometer scale. For the analytic procedure we applied a fresh blood spot on a glass slide and started the AFM detection after drying of the blood drop. In a first step, an overview image was generated showing the presence of several red blood cells, which could easily be detected due to their typical "doughnut-like" appearance. The consecutively morphological investigations in a timeframe of 4 weeks could not show any alterations. Secondly, AFM was used to test the elasticity by recording force-distance curves. The measurements were performed immediately after drying, 1.5 h, 30 h and 31 days. The conditions were kept constant at room temperature (20 degrees C) and a humidity of 30%. The obtained elasticity parameters were plotted against a timeline and repeated several times. The elasticity pattern showed a decrease over time, which are most probably influenced by the alteration of the blood spot during the drying and coagulation process. The preliminary data demonstrates the capacity of this method to use it for development of calibration curves, which can be used for estimation of bloodstain ages during forensic investigations.     

交通事故中摩托车司乘人员致伤方式分析

通过对3例摩托车交通事故中司乘人员的损伤特征及车辆痕迹的检验结果比对,分析事故过程中摩托车司乘人员的运动过程及致伤方式,发现因其位置、姿势和应激状态不同,摩托车驾驶位乘员与后座乘员在碰撞、运动过程中损伤形成不同,其人体成伤机制、部位及程度与车辆相关部位的损害痕迹可以相互佐证,对于推断摩托车司乘人员的行为方式(谁是摩托车驾驶员)具有重要价值。进一步总结此类事故鉴定的共同特点,可为事故责任认定提供参考。     

X线骨龄评估方法研究进展与展望

骨龄评估的传统方法主要包括计数法、图谱法及计分法等,近年来又有一些学者不断提出其他新的方法。利用骨骼X线片影像学特征推断骨龄是当前法医学工作者进行骨龄评估的主要手段。但是,将此骨龄推断结论作为"证据"直接提供给司法审判机关,因其存在着一定的误差尚值得商榷。因此,为了提高骨龄鉴定结论的精确度,还需进行更多方法学的研究。经参阅国内、外大量相关文献,现就X线片骨龄评估方法的研究与进展进行综述。