Search

BR-174 in Brazil, also known as Manaus–Boa Vista, is a longitudinal highway that connects the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso, Rondônia, Amazonas and Roraima to Venezuela, being the only terrestrial connection between Roraima and the rest of Brazil. Its construction took place in 1968 and its inauguration in 1977, aiming to promote the interconnection of the State of Roraima, as a geopolitical strategy, with the rest of the country and, later, with South America. The construction of the BR-174 crossed the Waimiri Atroaris indigenous land, resulting in serious socio-environmental conflicts in the 1970s. Furthermore, recent research indicates that the deforestation process in the Amazon is associated with the opening of roads, as it favours the migratory flow, the occupation of land and logging. In this context, the arrival of migrants and, consequently, the pressing need to settle newly arrived people in search of land, favoured the damming of watercourses, the reduction of wild fauna and deforestation as a result of the construction of the road and neighbouring areas. However, and currently, BR-174 translates into a strategy of progress and communication, uniting adjacent communities, on the one hand, and, on the other, allowing the use of biophysical resources in favour of the development of geotourism. Considering this reality and from the perspective of the social and environmental transformations that have occurred, the objective of this paper is to analyse the potential of the BR-174 for the development of geotourism, as a way of mitigating its socio-environmental impacts and connecting geographically remote regions. The qualitative nature approach is based on the treatment and analysis of available bibliographic and documental sources. As the only land connection in the State of Roraima, and in addition to the negative impacts on the socio-environmental profile of the region, it can be concluded that the BR-174 highway has the potential to be an element facilitating the promotion of geotourism in the remote region of Amazon, contributing to the socio-environmental safeguard of this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Muiraquitã: Revista de Letras e Humanidades is the property of Muiraquita and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Cidadania e Acesso à Justiça is the property of Tutor Desenvolvimento e Publicacoes Ltda. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Given the growing migratory movement of Venezuelans to Brazil, the state of Roraima occupies a prominent place in the dynamics of reception of crisis migrants of Venezuelan origin. In this context, this paper aims to reflect on the representation of the Venezuelan as an "invader" in the midst of xenophobic manifestations of part of the population of Roraima and the Spanish language represented as "the language of the invader". The theoretical framework is based on applied linguistics with debates on language and crisis migration. The methodology used was qualitative and interpretativist, with clippings of oral narratives of crisis migrants living in Roraima generated in a focus group activity. The results point out that the representation of the "invading" migrant is present in Roraima's society by both Brazilians and foreigners, and the use of the Spanish language may influence the way these people are treated in the state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Direito GV is the property of Fundacao Getulio Vargas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Religião e Sociedade is the property of Instituto de Estudos da Religiao and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Given the growing migratory movement of Venezuelans to Brazil, the state of Roraima occupies a prominent place in the dynamics of reception of crisis migrants of Venezuelan origin. In this context, this paper aims to reflect on the representation of the Venezuelan as an "invader" in the midst of xenophobic manifestations of part of the population of Roraima and the Spanish language represented as "the language of the invader". The theoretical framework is based on applied linguistics with debates on language and crisis migration. The methodology used was qualitative and interpretativist, with clippings of oral narratives of crisis migrants living in Roraima generated in a focus group activity. The results point out that the representation of the "invading" migrant is present in Roraima's society by both Brazilians and foreigners, and the use of the Spanish language may influence the way these people are treated in the state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurocysticercosis, a parasitic infection of the central nervous system (CNS), is a significant public health issue globally, including in Brazil. This article presents a case report of a 44-year-old male patient residing in the rural area of Roraima, the northernmost region of Brazil within the Amazon Forest. The patient, with chronic HIV infection, acquired the Taenia solium helminth, resulting in neurocysticercosis development. Remarkably, the diagnosis of neurocysticercosis was not initially apparent but emerged through meticulous analysis following a motorcycle accident. The absence of seizures, a common clinical manifestation, complicated the diagnostic process, making it an uncommon case of NCC, which may be related to co-infection. As the patient's condition progressed, multiple complications arose, requiring additional medical attention and interventions. This case underscores the immense challenges faced by healthcare teams in managing neurocysticercosis effectively. It emphasizes the critical need for a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to provide optimal care for such complex cases. The study's findings underscore the importance of raising awareness and implementing improved strategies for tackling neurocysticercosis, particularly in regions where it remains a prevalent concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Yanomami Indigenous Land in the Amazon has a long history of illegal artisanal gold mining, leading to concerns about mercury (Hg) contamination. This study has conducted a geochemical analysis to assess Hg contamination from these mining activities. Geological materials, including river water and stream sediments, were collected from 14 predetermined points based on the Geological Survey of Brazil's methodology. The results revealed that water samples did not show Hg contamination above the limits set by the National Council of the Environment (Conama) Resolution 357. However, two stream sediment samples, particularly PJS009 and PJS010 collected from the Mucajaí River, exceeded the Conama Resolution 454's limit of 0.17 mg/kg. A Hg content of 0.344 mg/kg was found in the sediment sample PJS009, the one collected further upstream in the Mucajaí River, and 1.386 mg/kg was found in sample PJS010, also in the Mucajaí River in the region shortly before the Fumaça Waterfall, indicating that the sediments of the Mucajaí River may be contaminated with Hg from the Fumaça Waterfall upstream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Syphilis is a chronic infectious disease, and its prevalence has been described since the 15th century. Because of the high prevalence of this infection in Brazil, this study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of syphilis and its associated factors among adolescent and young women living in the city of Boa Vista, Roraima, Brazil. Methods: The present study was cross-sectional, descriptive, analytical and quantitative. It involved 200 young and adolescent women. Laboratory tests were performed to diagnose syphilis, and a sociodemographic and epidemiological questionnaire was employed. Results: In the studied sample, 10 women had a positive result for syphilis, characterizing a prevalence of 5% for infection with Treponema pallidum. There was a statistically significant association between a monthly family income of less than 1 minimum wage and syphilis (p = 0.0449) and between illicit drug use and syphilis (p = 0.0234). Conclusions: These results indicate the need for public health interventions, action plans, and the implementation of risk reduction strategies focused on this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although bats can serve as reservoirs for several viruses and bacteria, there is limited knowledge regarding the diversity of apicomplexan protozoan belonging to the Piroplasmida and Haemosporida orders within this group of mammals. The present study aimed to investigate the occurrence and phylogenetic assessment of piroplasmids and hemosporidians in spleen samples collected from 229 vampire bats (228 Desmodus rotundus and 1 Diaemus youngii) in the states of Pará, Roraima, Amapá, and Amazonas, northern Brazil. Out of 229 bat spleen samples, 43 (18.77%) tested positive in a nested PCR for piroplasmids based on the 18S rRNA gene. Thirteen sequences (ranging from 474 to 828 base pairs) of the partial 18S rRNA gene showed 91.04–100% identity to Theileria sp., Babesia sp., and Piroplasmida previously detected in deer, tapirs, opossums, and crab-eating raccoons. The phylogenetic analysis based on the near-complete 18S rRNA gene positioned the obtained sequences from three D. rotundus in distinct clades (Theileria sensu stricto, Tapirus terrestris, and "South America Marsupialia"). All bat spleen DNA samples tested negative in a nested PCR assay for hemosporidians based on the cytB gene. The present study reported, for the first time, the presence Babesia sp. and Theileria sp. DNA in D. rotundus. The distinct positioning of the 18S rRNA gene sequences within different clades demonstrates the occurrence of different piroplasmid species in vampire bats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy auctions are commonly used to contract energy projects and are extensively studied from the regulator's perspective. However, analyzing auctions from the stakeholders' perspective is critical to determine the impact of regulatory details on the bidder's revenues. In this study, we analyze a public energy auction in Roraima, a Brazilian state with a significant energy deficit and no grid connection, where many projects were successful in the non-intermittent Power Product category, typically unfavorable for biomass. Using Linear Programming to maximize bidders' revenues, we examine the regulatory formulas that contributed to the success of these projects and compare the optimization results to actual revenues. Our analysis shows that certain regulatory elements can benefit stakeholders by allowing them to make unconventional project design decisions. In addition, we identify a possible loophole in the formula that can have the opposite effect of the regulator's intent in the renewable Power Product category. Our findings can help bidders increase profits through optimization and regulators to change formulas if objectives are not met. This study brings the often-overlooked perspective of stakeholders to energy auctions, adding to the literature on this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the massive growth of tourism on a global scale and the threats involved, the trails must be understood as a geoscience phenomenon of tourist attraction offering a unique experience. The trail allows contact with the geoecosystem to understand the natural dynamics around the wear and tear of use and anthropic action, developing awareness about how to support it. Thus, the objective of this work is to apply the concept of carrying capacity as a useful tool for the planning of the local trail, anchored in the principles of hiking, recreational and leisure activities, as a way to stimulate the commitment to the geoecosystem, following the current official safety standards. Part of a private farm, the Davi Trail is located in the central region of Mucajaí, in the state of Roraima, Brazil, and it is the object of this research. The methodology followed a literature review and field visits carried out from March 10 to 12, 2021, intending to describe the trail, its altimetric profile and carrying capacity. As a result, the trail and its potential for the activity of geotourism are presented. The trail is located 51 km away from the state capital, in Boa Vista, with a well-maintained natural structure. It is an alternative to complement the income of local citizens, as well as contributing to environmental educational practices. The municipality's public policies should integrate the voice of citizens who have deep knowledge of the reality in Mucajaí, boosting the social entrepreneurship of the region and safeguarding the natural geoecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The simultaneous transmission of two lineages of the chikungunya virus (CHIKV) was discovered after the pathogen's initial arrival in Brazil. In Oiapoque (Amapá state, north Brazil), the Asian lineage (CHIKV-Asian) was discovered, while in Bahia state, the East-Central-South-African lineage (CHIKV-ECSA) was discovered (northeast Brazil). Since then, the CHIKV-Asian lineage has been restricted to the Amazon region (mostly in the state of Amapá), whereas the ECSA lineage has expanded across the country. Despite the fact that the Asian lineage was already present in the Amazon region, the ECSA lineage brought from the northeast caused a large outbreak in the Amazonian state of Roraima (north Brazil) in 2017. Here, CHIKV spread in the Amazon region was studied by a Zika–Dengue–Chikungunya PCR assay in 824 serum samples collected between 2013 and 2016 from individuals with symptoms of viral infection in the Amapá state. We found 11 samples positive for CHIKV-Asian, and, from these samples, we were able to retrieve 10 full-length viral genomes. A comprehensive phylogenetic study revealed that nine CHIKV sequences came from a local transmission cluster related to Caribbean strains, whereas one sequence was related to sequences from the Philippines. These findings imply that CHIKV spread in different ways in Roraima and Amapá, despite the fact that both states had similar climatic circumstances and mosquito vector frequencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Muiraquitã: Revista de Letras e Humanidades is the property of Muiraquita and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The increasing pressure from agriculture and pasture activities over non-forest vegetation areas revealed the need of INPE to extend forest regular monitoring to non-forested areas. Non-forest vegetation consists of savannahs, shrub lands, grasslands or seasonal floodplains that occupy 279 thousand km2 (6,63 %) of Brazilian Amazon biome extension. Addressed ecosystem services of non-forest vegetation vary from climate, soil, carbon storage, biodiversity, water and fire regulation to cultural benefits and living of the population. The challenge in monitoring non-forest removal lies in climatic seasonality, high variability of phytophysiognomies and cloud coverage. In this work we developed a method to map non-forest vegetation from 2000 to 2021 in a pilot area enclosing five municipalities in Roraima and Amapá states. Considering the total area of 47 thousand km2, 58 % was originally forest and 37 % was non-forest vegetation. In 2020, soybean planted areas occupied 60 thousands hectares in these municipalities. We adapted PRODES protocol to non-forest features using visual interpretation of Landsat and SENTINEL-2 satellite images. Regional expertise supported the interpretation keys to distinguish non-forest removal from seasonal changes or other land use changes. A baseline map for 2000 is provided together with biannual and annual increments for 2002–2018 and 2019–2021, respectively. Results show removal of non-forested areas even overpassing deforestation in some municipalities. Accumulated non-forest removal was 3.133,06 km2 or 17,44 % of the non-forest area enclosed. This work consolidated the method to be applied in the Brazilian Amazon biome allowing a uniform historical mapping series of deforestation and non-forest removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Roraima state is the northernmost state in Brazil and the primary border-crossing point between Brazil and Venezuela. The uncontrolled surge of malaria in Venezuela, coupled with mass migration of Venezuelans to neighbouring countries and the upward trend in informal mining in the state, pose a serious threat to the broader region, especially to migrant, indigenous and mining populations, jeopardizing malaria elimination efforts. This study describes changes in the epidemiological profile of malaria in Roraima state related to time, place and populations at risk from 2016 to 2020. Methods: De-identified malaria surveillance data were obtained from the Malaria Epidemiological Surveillance System from 2016 to 2020. Pearson's chi-square tested differences between imported and autochthonous cases. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for imported versus autochthonous cases by demographic characteristics. Results: Odds of being an imported case were higher for Plasmodium falciparum cases (AOR = 2.08). However, as the number of cases from Venezuela decreased in 2020 following closure of the border, the proportion of P. falciparum cases increased markedly, from 6.24% in 2019 to 18.50% in 2020. Over the 5-year period, the odds of being an imported case among miners were about nine times higher than the general population (AOR = 8.99). The proportion of total malaria cases that were among indigenous people increased from 33.09% in 2016 to 54.83% in 2020. Indigenous children had a higher burden of malaria with over 40% of cases in children 0 to 9 years old, compared to 8% in non-indigenous children 0 to 9 years old. In some municipalities, place of infection differed from place of notification, with a large proportion of cases in these municipalities reporting in Boa Vista. Conclusions: Malaria remains a serious threat in Roraima state, especially among high-risk populations, such as miners, migrants, and indigenous people. As malaria cases have increased among indigenous people and miners, and the proportion of P. falciparum cases has increased, elimination efforts require understanding of these risk factors to tailor interventions appropriately. Furthermore, cross-border surveillance systems need to be urgently strengthened at formal and unofficial border points, especially since the border with Venezuela reopened in July 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The state of Roraima, in Brazil, has recently seen an increase in the number of reported Plasmodium falciparum infections believed to be imported from neighboring countries. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Plasmodium species among patients attending malaria health posts in Roraima and quantify the infections attributable to imported malaria. This cross-sectional case study was carried out between March 2016 and September 2018. Study participants were recruited as they exited the malaria health post. Information about residence, occupation and travel history was collected using a questionnaire. A dried blood spot was collected and used for malaria diagnosis by PCR. A total of 1222 patients were enrolled. Of the 80% Plasmodium positive samples, 50% were P. falciparum, 34% P. vivax, 8% mixed P. falciparum/P. vivax and 0.2% mixed P. falciparum/P. ovale infections and 8% tested positive for Plasmodium, but the species could not be identified. 80% of the malaria patients likely acquired infections in Venezuela and the remaining 20% acquired in Guyana, Brazil, Suriname and French Guyana. 50% of the study participants reported to be working in a mine. Results from this study support the hypothesis that imported malaria contribute to the bulk of malaria diagnosed in Roraima. These findings are in keeping with previous findings and should be considered when developing malaria control interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Malaria control requires local action. Assessing the vector diversity and abundance provides information on the local malariogenic potential or risk of transmission. This study aimed to determine the Anopheles species composition, habitats, seasonal occurrence, and distribution in areas with autochthonous and imported malaria cases in Roraima State. Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted from January 2017 to October 2018, sampling larvae and adult mosquitoes in three municipalities of Roraima State: Boa Vista, Pacaraima and São João da Baliza. These areas have different risks of malaria importation. Four to six mosquito larval habitats were selected for larval sampling at each municipality, along with two additional sites for adult mosquito collection. All larval habitats were surveyed every two months using a standardized larval sampling methodology and MosqTent for adult mosquitoes. Results: A total of 544 Anopheles larvae and 1488 adult mosquitoes were collected from the three municipalities studied. Although the species abundance differed between municipalities, the larvae of Anopheles albitarsis s.l., Anopheles nuneztovari s.l. and Anopheles triannulatus s.l. were collected from all larval habitats studied while Anopheles darlingi were collected only from Boa Vista and São João da Baliza. Adults of 11 species of the genus Anopheles were collected, and the predominant species in Boa Vista was An. albitarsis (88.2%) followed by An. darlingi (6.9%), while in São João da Baliza, An. darlingi (85.6%) was the most predominant species followed by An. albitarsis s.l. (9.2%). In contrast, the most abundant species in Pacaraima was Anopheles braziliensis (62%), followed by Anopheles peryassui (18%). Overall, the majority of anophelines exhibited greater extradomicile than peridomicile-biting preference. Anopheles darlingi was the only species found indoors. Variability in biting times was observed among species and municipalities. Conclusion: This study revealed the composition of anopheline species and habitats in Boa Vista, Pacaraima and São João da Baliza. The species sampled differed in their behaviour with only An. darlingi being found indoors. Anopheles darlingi appeared to be the most important vector in São João da Baliza, an area of autochthonous malaria, and An. albitarsis s.l. and An. braziliensis in areas of low transmission, although there were increasing reports of imported malaria. Understanding the diversity of vector species and their ecology is essential for designing effective vector control strategies for these municipalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study was to determine and correlate the main morphometric characteristics of fruits, seeds, and seedling vigor of Agonandra brasiliensis, in Roraima. The design was completely randomized with three treatments, consisting of six replications with 20 seeds. The treatments established were three classes of seeds: T1 - small seeds (S = 1.50-1.69 g); T2 - medium seeds (M = 1.70-1.89 g) and T3 - large seeds (L = 1.90-2.09 g). The variables evaluated were: length; diameter; the fresh mass of fruits and seeds; percentage, speed (in index) and average time of emergence, length of roots and aerial part; number of leaves; fresh, dry and total seedling mass; seedling lignification index; root/shoot ratio and dry root/shoot ratio and correlations between all studied variables. The fresh mass of the fruit of Agonandra brasiliensis has a high positive correlation with the mass of seeds. Small seeds of Agonandra brasiliensis exhibit a higher percentage of emergence in the conditions of the northern Amazon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To know the experiences of Venezuelan migrant women living in shelters in Roraima state at the northwestern border between Venezuela and Brazil regarding situations of violence as part of the dynamics of everyday life. Materials and methods: Data were collected in January 2020 through 12 focus group discussions (FGDs) with 5 to 14 Venezuelan migrant women aged 18–49 years old living transitorily in five shelters established by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Brazilian government. We obtained individual and shared views on the experiences regarding violence that migrant women may experience in their everyday life. To organize the FGDs, variations in age and the time women were living at the shelters were considered. All FGDs were held in a place at the shelter that guaranteed privacy and secrecy so that women could express themselves freely. The initial question was broad and open ended and was followed by more specific questions about situations of domestic violence and other types of violence. Results: The main themes identified were the following: i) women's perceptions on domestic violence, ii) women's perceptions on how humanitarian organizations were managing the episodes of domestic violence, and iii) situations considered violence in everyday life at the shelters. The FGDs showed that the reported violence inside the shelters was high, and several forms of violence emerged. Violence was identified as physical aggression and psychological threats, and violence in everyday life at the shelter included xenophobia when the migrants went outside the shelters that was perceived and described as violence. Conclusions: According to the perspective of Venezuelan migrant women violence was part of everyday life among those living in the UNHCR shelters at the northwestern border of Brazil-Venezuela. These women are not comfortable with this situation, and it is difficult for them to understand and handle the episodes of violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nighttime studies are underrepresented in ecological research. Even well-known behaviors, such as the loud call of howler monkeys, are rarely studied at night. Our goal was to help fill this knowledge gap by studying the 24 h vocal behavior of the Guianan red howler monkey (Alouatta macconnelli) and to compare the acoustic structures of howling bouts made during the day to those made at night. We used passive acoustic monitoring coupled with automatic acoustic detection to study three groups of howlers over three months in the Viruá National Park, Roraima, Brazil. The automatic classifier we built detected 171 howling bouts with a 42% recall rate and 100% precision. Though primarily diurnal, howlers vocalized mainly at night. Greater vocal activity before nautical twilight might be associated with territorial and resource defense behaviors, with howlers calling from roosting sites before starting their daily routines. We also found that during the day, howling bouts were longer and had lower harmonic-to-noise ratios, lower frequencies, and more symmetric energy distributions than bouts at night. Our study adds to growing evidence that passive acoustic monitoring and automatic acoustic detection can be used to study primates and improve our understanding of their vocal behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]