The present research examined the effects that the variables of burial depth and presence of a plastic covering material had on the decomposition rate of fetal remains. The experimental sample consisted of fetal pigs (Sus scrofa) as a substitute for fetal human remains. The general size and bone composition of fetal pigs are comparable to those of fetal humans. The decomposition of the fetal pigs remains was observed in four independent variable groups: 20 cm unwrapped, 20 cm wrapped, 60 cm unwrapped, and 60 cm wrapped, per time period. The author hypothesized that the rate of decay would be slower for wrapped remains or for remains at a greater burial depth. The results of the two different burial depths and of the wrapped versus unwrapped groups was analyzed to determine the effects of those variables on the rate of decomposition. Analysis of these remains consisted of quantitative data, including pre-burial and post-burial mass comparison as well as the Total Body Score. It was found that wrapping was a significant influencer of mass loss with a p value of 0.0298 but not for the Total Body Score with a p value of 0.17565, while burial depth did not have a significant effect on either mass loss nor Total Body Score with a p value of 0.1956 and 0.08969, respectively.

The estimation of postmortem interval (PMI) is a critical component of medicolegal death investigation. An accurate PMI estimate has the potential to influence the allocation of investigative resources, establish the probative value of associated biological and material evidence, shape the analytical framework applied to skeletal analysis, and inform cause and manner of death. Forensic anthropologists are often tasked with PMI estimation throughout all stages of decomposition and typically rely on categorical phases of soft tissue and skeletal change purported to correspond to broad estimates of elapsed time. In an attempt to improve precision, Megyesi et al. (2005) developed the Total Body Score model (TBS). This quantitative method relies on qualitative assessment of value-assigned categories of tissue change within three anatomical regions to estimate accumulated degree days (ADD), and subsequently, PMI. However, the TBS model has failed to prove reliable in a diversity of region-specific validation studies, emphasizing the need for environment-specific research in taphonomy study. Toward that end, the rate, pattern, and trajectory of decomposition was assessed among a cohort of 12 human donors in the high-altitude Rocky Mountain region of Colorado. This research was performed at Colorado Mesa University’s Forensic Investigation Research Station high-altitude satellite facility, FIRS-TB40. The site lies at an elevation of 3000 meters/9840 feet above mean sea level (AMSL), in the Dfc (snow, fully humid, cool summer) climate region. With both significantly higher elevation and an unrepresented climate classification, FIRS-TB40 introduces a novel environment for the controlled study of human decomposition. This quadripartite study sought to (1) test the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the TBS model in a high-altitude environment to assess suitability of application in the estimation of local PMI; (2) test seven atmospheric variables to assess the utility of integrating atmospheric data beyond ADD into PMI estimation; (3) establish the rate and pattern of human decomposition, isolate and describe phasic patterns of soft tissue change throughout the trajectory of decomposition, and (4) develop a region specific bioecological profile with an emphasis on the integration of human behavior.Results: (1) Neither the qualitative or quantitative aspects of the TBS model tested well at high-altitude and are therefore not recommended for application within the study environment. The qualitative changes presented in the TBS model were not observed among the high-altitude cohort. While Megyesi et al. report that time and temperature - as measured by ADD - accounts for 84% of the variance observed throughout decomposition, ADD accounted for only 42% of the variance observed in decomposition within the high-altitude cohort. (2) Seven atmospheric variables were assessed using locally estimated scatterplot smoothing (LOESS) and multivariate regression. Two of these variables - accumulated solar radiation days (r2 = 0.67) and accumulated windspeed days (r2 = 0.65) – explained more variance in decomposition than ADD (r2 = 64). (3) Five categories of phasic, macroscopic soft tissue change, the suite of which is inferred unique to high-altitude, were identified. These include adipocere formation, trajectory of soft tissue color change, fluid bloat, tissue island formation, and skin sloughing. Patterns of slope roll and slope wash were also described to inform the local taphonomic profile. (4) A forensic bioecological profile was developed using empirically derived patterns of scavenger behavior, census and land use data, extant ethnographic data, and forensic case study. Analysis demonstrated that the data sources were cyclically informative and sufficient to develop an early phase foundational model that will benefit from future interdisciplinary research.Summarily, the high-altitude region of Colorado is culturally and environmentally distinct. The observed disparity in rate and pattern of human decomposition between the high-altitude cohort and the TBS model, and the inadequacy of ADD alone to predict PMI are demonstrative of the need for environment-specific model building in human taphonomy research.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T14:37:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_patricia_ferreira.pdf: 3549242 bytes, checksum: 6b4765bbb91c305da5c2ca96571c76db (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-10 / In this work we have studied the relationship between biochemical metabolic parameters (of dogs) and body score, fasting and feeding. In order to evaluate the glycemia values, using a digital (portable) glucometer, it was used 6μL of venous and capillary blood. On the other hand, when we evaluated the glycemia, through enzymatic method (laboratory), only venous blood was used. To analyze the metabolic curve we have collected blood samples of fasting dogs and 0:30, 1:30, 3:00, 6:00, 9:00, and 12:00 hours after feeding with premium industrial food. The laboratorial analysis were realized by enzymatic determination through colorimetry. In order to correlate the body scores and dogs morphometry, we have defined the body score, the body mass index (BMI), and the average values of cutaneous fat at the right rib cage, thoracic, and tail base regions. Also, we have measured the thoracic and inguinal circumference ratio. To compare the body scores with the metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids the dogs were classified, according to their weight, as ideal weighted, overweighted and obese. We have measured the glycemia, cholesterol (total and fractions), and triglycerides. The glycemia average values, obtained with the portable glucometer, of capillary and venous blood were similar. The glycemic, VLDL fraction, and triglyceride levels are changed after feeding, while the other analyzed parameters (total cholesterol, HDL and LDL fractions) are not. The obese dogs presented higher BMI and subcutaneous fat values and lower circumference ratio values, when compared with the ideal weighted and overweighted ones. The VLDL fraction and triglyceride values were higher when measured at the obese dogs. It is concluded that the portable glucometer is reliable, since the average values of venous and capillary glycemia are similars. At the experiment conditions, it is possible to perform the biochemical analysis of glycemia, total and fraction cholesterol, and triglycerides values after 3h fasting. The analysis of body mass index, together with the subcutaneous fat values and the circumference ratio has proven to be a fast and effective method to classify dogs as ideal weighted, overweighted and obese. At the studied conditions, obese dogs presented higher triglycerides and VLDL cholesterol fraction levels, when compared with overweighted dogs. / O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar os parâmetros bioquímicos metabólicos de cães relacionando com condição corporal, jejum e alimentação. Para avaliação da glicemia, com glicosímetro digital, foi utilizado 6μL de sangue capilar e venoso, e para dosagem pelo método enzimático foi utilizado sangue venoso. Para estudar a curva metabólica foram realizadas coletas sanguíneas em jejum e 0:30, 1:00, 1:30, 3:00, 6:00, 9:00 e 12:00 horas após o fornecimento de ração industrial premium. As análises laboratoriais foram feitas por determinação enzimática através da colorimetria. Para relacionar os escores corporais com a morfometria canina, definimos o escore corporal, o índice de massa corporal (IMC), as médias das dobras cutâneas e a razão entre as circunferências torácica e abdominal. Para comparar os escores corporais com o metabolismo de carboidratos e lipídios os cães foram classificados em peso ideal, sobrepeso e obeso. Mensurou-se a glicemia, o colesterol total, frações colesterêmicas e os triglicerídeos. Os valores médios da glicemia obtida por glicosímetro portátil, amostra capilar e venosa e pelo método enzimático laboratorial foram similares. Em relação à curva metabólica, os níveis glicêmicos, da fração VLDL e dos triglicérides, são alterados após a alimentação, enquanto os demais parâmetros analisados (colesterol total e frações HDL e LDL) não. Os cães obesos apresentaram maiores valores do IMC e das dobras cutâneas e menores valores da razão entre circunferências. Os valores da fração VLDL e os triglicerídeos foram maiores nos cães obesos. Conclui-se que as médias dos valores da glicemia capilar e venosa aferidas por glicosímetro digital são similares. Nas condições estudadas observamos que é possível fazer a análise bioquímica dos valores da glicemia, colesterol total, frações colesterêmica e triglicerídeos após 3 h de jejum. O índice de massa corporal juntamente com os valores das dobras cutâneas e da razão entre as circunferências dos cães são uma forma rápida e eficaz para classificar os cães nos escores corporais de peso ideal, sobrepeso e obeso. Nas condições estudadas, cães obesos apresentam níveis de triglicerídeos e fração colesterêmica VLDL mais elevados que em cães com sobrepeso.

Cette thèse n'explore pas ce qu'est le corps, mais ce qu'un corps peut devenir. Elle explore le corps comme un événement en train de se faire à travers les concepts tels que le Corps sans Organes (Antonin Artaud, Gilles Deleuze et Félix Guattari), le bodying (Erin Manning), le corps en train de se faire (Erin Manning) et le devenir (Gilles Deleuze et Félix Guattari). Ce que tous ces concepts ont en commun est l'état de devenir. Ici, le corps devient, et en tant que tel - c'est un verbe, une activité, une force. Cette thèse explore non seulement le corps comme une force de devenir, mais elle explore également le devenir de cette force - au niveau moléculaire, expérientiel et relationnel. Comme le dit Manning, un corps est toujours plus qu'un corps. Ici, nous essayons d'aborder les devenirs physiques, expérientiels et relationnels d'un corps en mouvement. Ce qui bouge le corps de l'état d'être vers l'état de devenir est le mouvement. Cette thèse tente de montrer comment le mouvement ne s'arrête jamais. Nous bougeons toujours, donc, il y a une continuité de devenir. Un corps n'est jamais uniquement une forme, il est une force-forme. Le mouvement est celui qui ouvre le corps vers son devenir de force(s). Un corps en mouvement n'est pas une forme d'expression, mais une force d'expressivité. Le mouvement fait le corps, par conséquent, le corps lui-même est un mouvement. Nous ne dansons pas avec le corps, nous dansons le corps lui-même. Le corps est une partition, un corps-partition, de son devenir. / This thesis does not explore what body is, but what a body can become. It explores the body as event-in-making throughout the concepts such as Body without Organs (Antonin Artaud, Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari), bodying (Erin Manning), body-in-making (Erin Manning). What all of those concepts have in common is the same state - a state of becoming. Here, body becomes, and as such - it is a verb, an activity, a force. This thesis does not only explore the body as a force of becoming, but it also explores the becoming of that force - at the molecular, experiential and relational level. As Manning says, a body is always more-than one. Here, we are trying to approach the physical, experiential and relational becomings of a body in movement. That which moves the body from the state of being into the state of becoming is movement. This thesis is trying to show how movement never stops. We always move, therefore, there is a continuity of becoming. A body is never just a form, but a force-form. Movement is that which opens the body toward its becoming of force(s). A moving body is not a form of expression, but a force-field of expressivity. Movement makes the body, therefore, the body itself is a movement. We are not dancing with the body, we are dancing the body itself. The body is a score, a body-score, of its own becoming.