Northern Brazil Research Articles

Two new species of Neea (Nyctaginaceae: Pisonieae) from humid forests in northern and northeastern Brazil

Two new species of Neea (Nyctaginaceae: Pisonieae) from humid forests in northern and northeastern Brazil

Unveiling hidden diversity of Oecomys (Rodentia: Cricetidae) from Brazilian Central Amazonia: description of a new species and new lineages

The arboreal rice rat of the genus Oecomys Thomas, 1906 is one of the most speciose genera of the subfamily Sigmodontinae, with 19 species currently recognized and occurring from eastern Panama to northern Argentina, Paraguay, and in northern, central and eastern Brazil. Herein we describe a new species using an integrative approach based on molecular, morphological, and morphometric data. We used in our assessment recently collected specimens from the states of Pará and Rondônia, one of the most deforested regions in Brazil. We examined 51 specimens of Oecomys from museum collections including name-bearing types from most of the distributional range of the genus. We also sequenced 32 specimens of Oecomys, and for the molecular analyses, we used the mitochondrial marker Cytochrome b and the nuclear marker intron 7 of β-fibrinogen. Our mitochondrial marker results recovered a strongly supported clade composed of two divergent clades (3.78%), one including lineages of O. bicolor and O. cleberi, and the other clade representing the new species. The topology of concatenated mitochondrial and nuclear data also recovered Oecomys sp. nov. as a sister lineage of the O. bicolor and O. cleberi clade. Also, both markers recovered new lineages from the O. bicolor and O. cleberi species group. The new species can be discriminated from other Oecomys species by pelage colour and craniodental characters, such as absent or small mastoid fenestra, and the presence of alisphenoid strut, small subsquamosal fenestra, presence of sphenopalatine vacuities, and presence of accessory loph of M1 and M2 paracones. The new species occurs exclusively in the Rondônia centre of endemism, delimited by the rivers Amazon to the north, Tapajós to the east, and Madeira to the west. The description of this new Oecomys increases the diversity, and also contributes to elevate Amazonian Sigmodontinae species richness and endemism in this still poorly known biome. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:7477D37A-4D02-443F-B0FB-149379BEDE92

Application of the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Electromagnetic (EM34-3) Geophysical Tools and Sedimentology for the Evaluation of the Subsurface of Sites Earmarked for Aquaculture Ponds in the Amazon Region of Northern Brazil

The present study evaluated the application of Ground Penetrating Radar and Electromagnetic Induction geophysical tools combined with sedimentology for the description of the subsurface of sites destined for the installation of ponds for an extensive freshwater fish farming system. Two areas with similar topographic characteristics (flat land near bodies of water) were investigated in the Amazon region of northern Brazil: Area 1—the future site of an aquaculture research center, and Area 2—an established fish farming operation. These tools performed well in the evaluation of the suitability of the terrain for the installation of aquaculture ponds. The application of these tools can, thus, be recommended for aquaculture projects, given that it provides advanced knowledge on the characteristics of the local soils, which is extremely important to guarantee the sustainability of any aquaculture operation. These data can help minimize the environmental impacts of the process, while maximizing the economic returns to the installation of an aquaculture operation.

Analysis of Epidemiological Factors and SNP rs3804100 of TLR2 for COVID-19 in a Cohort of Professionals Who Worked in the First Pandemic Wave in Belém-PA, Brazil.

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by coronavirus 2 of the severe acute syndrome (SARS-CoV-2). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes, such as TLR2, responsible for an effective human immune response, can change the course of infection. The objective of this article was to verify associations between epidemiological factors and TLR2 SNP rs3804100 (Thymine [T] > Cytosine [C]) in professionals from Health Institutions (HI) who worked during the first pandemic wave and COVID-19. A case-control study was conducted with Belém-PA HI workers (Northern Brazil), divided into symptomatology groups (Asymptomatic-AS; n = 91; and Symptomatic-SI; n = 123); and severity groups classified by Chest Computerized Tomography data (symptomatic with pulmonary involvement-SCP; n = 35; symptomatic without pulmonary involvement-SSP; n = 8). Genotyping was performed by Sanger sequencing, and Statistical Analysis was conducted through the SPSS program. Bioinformatics servers predicted the biological functions of the TLR2 SNP. There were associations between the presence of comorbidities and poor prognosis of COVID-19 (especially between symptomatology and severity of COVID-19 and overweight and obesity) and between the sickness in family members and kinship (related to blood relatives). The homozygous recessive (C/C) genotype was not found, and the frequency of the mutant allele (C) was less than 10% in the cohort. No significant associations were found for this SNP in this cohort. The presence of SNP was indicated to be benign and causes a decrease in the stability of the TLR2 protein. These data can help the scientific community and medicine find new forms of COVID-19 containment.

Five-years post commercial approval monitoring of eucalyptus H421.

Eucalyptus comprises the largest planted area of cultivated production forest in Brazil. Genetic modification of eucalyptus can provide additional characteristics for increasing productivity, protecting plant yield, and potentially altering fiber for various industrial uses. With this objective, a transgenic eucalyptus variety, event H421, received regulatory approval for commercial release after 6years of approved risk assessment studies by the Brazilian National Technical Biosafety Commission (CTNBio) in 2015, becoming the first approved genetically modified (GM) eucalyptus in the world. GM event H421 enables increased plant biomass accumulation through overexpression of the Arabidopsis 1,4-β-endoglucanase Cel1, which remodels the xyloglucan-cellulose matrix of the cell wall during development to promote cell expansion and growth. As required, in that time, by the current normative from CTNBio, a post-commercial release monitoring plan for H421 was submitted, incorporating general surveillance for five consecutive years with the submission of annual reports. The monitoring plan was conducted on fields of H421 progenies, with conventional clones as comparators, cultivated in representative regions where eucalyptus is cultivated in the states of São Paulo, Bahia, and Maranhão, representing Southeast, Northeast, and Northern Brazil. Over the course of the five-year general surveillance monitoring plan for the approved GM eucalyptus H421, no adverse effect that could impact the biosafety of the commercially approved event was identified. Additionally, the GM eucalyptus exhibited behavior highly consistent with that of conventional commercial clones. Therefore, there was no need for an extra risk assessment study of a case-specific monitoring plan. The results show the importance of continuously updating the regulation norms of governmental agencies to align with scientific advances.

Phylogenetic analysis of rabies surveillance samples from north and northeast Brazil.

Viruses of the Lyssavirus genus are classified into several genotypes (GT1 to GT7), of which only GT1 (classic rabies virus-RABV) has a cosmopolitan distribution and circulates in Brazil. GT1 is subdivided into several antigenic variants (AgV) maintained in independent cycles with a narrow host range and distinct geographic distributions, namely, AgV1 and AgV2 found in dogs, AgV3 in the vampire bats Desmodus rotundus, and AgV4 and AgV6 in bats non-hematophagous Tadarida brasiliensis and Lasiurus cinereus, a common variant of marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), and crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous). In this study, we performed phylogenetic analysis to identify at the antigenic variant level; six RABV genomes derived from the Rabies Surveillance in the north and northeast regions of Brazil. The analysis resulted in the formation of 11 monophyletic clusters, each corresponding to a particular variant, with high bootstrap support values. The samples were positioned inside the AgV3, AgV6, and Callithrix variant clades. This is the first report of the AgV6 variant found in northern Brazil, which provides valuable information for rabies surveillance in the country. The possibility of viral spillover has been much debated, as it deals with the risk of shifting transmission from a primary to a secondary host. However, more genomic surveillance studies should be performed, with a greater number and diversity of samples to better understand the transmission dynamics of each variant to detect changes in its geographic distribution and spillover events.

Digital Assessment of the Knowledge, Attitudes and Preparedness of Dentists towards Providing Dental Treatment to People Living with HIV in Northern Brazil.

This cross-sectional study was population-based among dentists and was conducted between July and December 2021. A total of 396 dentists were invited using the "snowball" sampling technique and received an anonymous digital form (Google® Forms platform) composed of four blocks of dichotomous and multiple-choice questions. After signing the informed consent form, dentists were divided into seven groups according to the amount of time that had passed (in years) since they had completed their bachelor's degree in dentistry. A total of 25 questions referring to sociodemographic, educational and professional factors and knowledge about the dental care of PLWH were asked, and all data were presented as descriptive percentages and then analyzed using the Kappa test. The average age was 31.9 years, and the states of Pará and Amazonas presented better knowledge about the dental care of PLWH. Dental prostheses (62/381-16.3%), orthodontics (57/381-15%) and periodontics (56/381-14.7%) were the most cited dental specialties, and demographic, professional and epidemiological characteristics showed a statistically significant difference regarding knowledge (<0.0001). The knowledge of dentists in Northern Brazil is partially high, although there is some lack of knowledge about the dental care of PLWH.

A multiplex PCR forensic protocol for the molecular certification of sea catfishes (Ariidae – Siluriformes) from coastal Amazon, Brazil

The marine catfishes (family Ariidae) are important fisheries resources, particularly along the Amazon coast in northern Brazil. Whole fresh specimens and fish fillets are commercialized in both national and international markets, including several records of species substitution and frauds in the trade of processed products. In addition, the life traits of marine catfish species make them particularly vulnerable to overexploitation. Therefore, we developed a molecular certification system for the authentication of these species based on DNA markers. Specific and universal primers were used for the amplification of the mitochondrial Cytochrome b (Cytb) gene and combined with primers for the 16S ribosomal RNA gene (control marker) to provide the first forensic molecular protocol based on multiplex PCR for marine catfishes from Brazilian Amazon coast. Accordingly, distinct band profiles were obtained for each of the most exploited species along this region: Bagre bagre, Notarius grandicassis, Sciades couma, Sciades herzbergii, Sciades parkeri, Sciades passany, and Sciades proops. To amplify the band pattern required for species identification, a concentration of 20 ng/ul was required. In the cross-amplification assay, other fish species were discriminated from the Ariidae bands. The multiplex PCR was about 35x cheaper and saved 13 h of labor to identify the seven species of Ariidae when compared to DNA sequencing. Thus, this protocol represents a viable and efficient tool to the certification of processed products by inspection agencies and to assure the consumer’s rights, eventually leading to an improved management in fisheries. The fishing industry might benefit from the multiplex protocol for the authentication of commercial products, adding market value to them based on DNA certification labels.

Hepatitis C and Human Pegivirus Coinfection in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C from the Brazilian Amazon Region: Prevalence, Genotypes and Clinical Data.

Coinfection of HPgV-1 with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is common due to shared modes of transmission, with a prevalence of HPgV-1 viremia of approximately 20% among individuals with chronic HCV infection. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of HPgV-1 RNA and circulating genotypes in patients with hepatitis C from a health service located in the city of Belém, in the state of Pará, Northern Brazil. A total of 147 samples were included in the study from February to December 2019. Among the participants, 72.1% (106/147) were monoinfected with HCV, with detectable HCV viral RNA, and 27.9% (41/147) were coinfected with HCV/HPgV-1. The most frequently found genotypes were HPgV-1 genotypes 1 and 2 (36.6% and 63.4%), respectively. While for HCV there was a predominance of genotypes 1 and 3 (58.5% and 41.5%). No significant differences were found when comparing any risk, sociodemographic, or clinical factors between groups. Also, there was no statistically significant difference when relating the viral genotypes of both agents. This study indicated that the prevalence of infection by HPgV-1 is high in HCV carriers in Belém, Pará, and probably does not change the clinical course of HCV infection, however, further studies are still needed.

PRESENCE OF METACERCARIAE OF Opisthorchis sp. BLANCHARD, 1895 (TREMATODA: OPISTHORCHIIDAE) IN NEW HOST Macrobrachium amazonicum (HELLER, 1862), FROM THE NORTHERN BRAZIL: AN EMERGING RISK TO HUMANS BY THE SHRIMP CONSUMPTION

Herein, we report the first observation of the metacercaria Opisthorchis sp. Blanchard, 1895 recovered from a new intermediate host Macrobrachium amazonicum (Heller, 1862), an important food resource from northern Brazil, emphasising the risk of contamination from inappropriate human consumption. The shrimp specimens of M. amazonicum were collected during June 2023, using a local trap called matapi in the Guamá River (01°27’54.2”S; 048°26’02.6”W), which supplies the city of Belém, showing a characteristic of an eutrophicated river. The collected specimens were sexed, measured, weighted and dissected in the carapace region, to observe the presence of parasites in gills, hepatopancreas and gonads. We observed 56 specimens of M. amazonicum (20 males, 32 females and 4 ovigerous females), of which thirteen individuals (23.21% of total sampled) showed encysted metacercariae of Opisthorchis sp. only in gonadal tissues, with high preference in females (66.6%), when compared with males (33.4%). The observation of metacercaria in Amazon river prawn is a risk to human health, due to the parasite's life cycle being completed in humans, leading to several health problems such as hepatic and biliary degradation, diarrhoea, vomiting and respiratory problems. Additionally, the eutrophication process observed in the Guamá River may favour parasite proliferation, and dissemination to other hosts and regions, possibly increasing the cases of people infected with parasites in Belém metropolitan area. Based on that, this work is an alert to the authorities for the risk of contamination of the population due to inadequate consumption of (molluscs, crustaceans and fishes) from the eutrophic waters of the Guamá River and adjacent waters.

New species and records of Caenidae Newman, 1853 (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) from Rondnia State, Northern Brazil.

Caenidae is a globally widespread family, inhabiting a variety of aquatic habitats. In South America, only 35 species are recognized, maybe as a consequence of the few studies until the first decade of the 21st century. Despite recent advances, large portions of Brazil, such as Rondnia State, are still characterized by Linnean and Wallacean shortfalls. Rondnia is an area predicted to have high mayfly richness, but with no record of Caenidae. From this perspective, the objective of this study is to provide the first access to primary biodiversity data of Caenidae (Ephemeroptera) from Rondnia. As result, we report five species (Brasilocaenis elidioi, Brasilocaenis irmleri, Caenis chamie, Caenis fittkaui, Latineosus sigillatus) and describe a new species based on all life stages (Caenis urupa sp. nov.).

Susceptibility to car accidents due to sudden illness with truck drivers in northern Brazil

The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity among truck drivers is closely related to the quality of life of this population and poses a significant vulnerability to the occurrence of car accidents. Objective: to identify the prevalence of these clinical conditions in drivers, as well as the correlation of their existence with emergency situations involving this population and the mechanisms of public health care. Methods: The QVS-80 questionnaire was applied to a sample population of 100 truck drivers in the municipality of Paraíso do Tocantins, located on the banks of the BR-153, to verify information related to quality of life and the presence or absence of Diabetes Mellitus, hypertension, and calculation of the Body Mass Index (BMI) to determine obesity according to the Brazilian Obesity Guidelines - ABESO (2016). In addition, blood pressure measurement and classification of individuals as hypertensive according to the VI Brazilian Guidelines for Arterial Hypertension of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology (2020), and as diabetics through random capillary blood glucose measurement in accordance with the guidelines of the Brazilian Society of Diabetes (2020) were performed. Results: The occurrence of car accidents involving trucks is directly related to the quality of life of their drivers, which was shown to be very poor due to the preexistence of chronic diseases such as obesity (41%), overweight (36%), diabetes (6%), and hypertension (60%). Conclusion: The work environment of truck drivers is ideal for sudden-onset events during driving and consequently the occurrence of accidents.

Three new Oxyethira Eaton 1873 (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae) from Par State, Northern Brazil.

Three new species of Oxyethira are described and ilustrated: Oxyethira longisterna sp. nov., Oxyethira gyrosterna sp. nov., and Oxyethira acuminata sp. nov. New country records of Oxyethira macrosterna Flint 1974 and Oxyethira bicornuta Kelley 1983 are also provided.

Molecular Changes in the Brain of the Wintering Calidris pusilla in the Mangroves of the Amazon River Estuary.

Migrant birds prepare differently to fly north for breeding in the spring and for the flight to lower latitudes during autumn, avoiding the cold and food shortages of the Northern Hemisphere's harsh winter. The molecular events associated with these fundamental stages in the life history of migrants include the differential gene expression in different tissues. Semipalmated sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) are Arctic-breeding shorebirds that migrate to the coast of South America during the non-breeding season. In a previous study, we demonstrated that between the beginning and the end of the wintering period, substantial glial changes and neurogenesis occur in the brain of C. pusilla. These changes follow the epic journey of the autumn migration when a 5-day non-stop transatlantic flight towards the coast of South America and the subsequent preparation for the long-distance flight of the spring migration takes place. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the differential gene expressions observed in the brains of individuals captured in the autumn and spring windows are consistent with the previously described cellular changes. We searched for differential gene expressions in the brain of the semipalmated sandpiper, of recently arrived birds (RA) from the autumnal migration, and that of individuals in the premigratory period (PM) in the spring. All individuals were collected in the tropical coastal of northern Brazil in the mangrove region of the Amazon River estuary. We generated a de novo neurotranscriptome for C. pusilla individuals and compared the gene expressions across libraries. To that end, we mapped an RNA-Seq that reads to the C. pusilla neurotranscriptome in four brain samples of each group and found that the differential gene expressions in newly arrived and premigratory birds were related with neurogenesis, metabolic pathways (ketone body biosynthetic and the catabolic and lipid biosynthetic processes), and glial changes (astrocyte-dopaminergic neuron signaling, astrocyte differentiation, astrocyte cell migration, and astrocyte activation involved in immune response), as well as genes related to the immune response to virus infections (Type I Interferons), inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF, and NF-κB), NLRP3 inflammasome, anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10), and cell death pathways (pyroptosis- and caspase-related changes).

Endemic High-Risk Clone ST277 Is Related to the Spread of SPM-1-Producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa during the COVID-19 Pandemic Period in Northern Brazil.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a high-priority bacterial agent that causes healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs), which often leads to serious infections and poor prognosis in vulnerable patients. Its increasing resistance to antimicrobials, associated with SPM production, is a case of public health concern. Therefore, this study aims to determine the antimicrobial resistance, virulence, and genotyping features of P. aeruginosa strains producing SPM-1 in the Northern region of Brazil. To determine the presence of virulence and resistance genes, the PCR technique was used. For the susceptibility profile of antimicrobials, the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method was performed on Mueller-Hinton agar. The MLST technique was used to define the ST of the isolates. The exoS+/exoU- virulotype was standard for all strains, with the aprA, lasA, toxA, exoS, exoT, and exoY genes as the most prevalent. All the isolates showed an MDR or XDR profile against the six classes of antimicrobials tested. HRC ST277 played a major role in spreading the SPM-1-producing P. aeruginosa strains.

Integration of the technology acceptance model and the information systems success model in the analysis of Moodle's satisfaction and continuity of use

PurposeThis paper aims to analyse the factors that influence the satisfaction and intention of continuity of use, of teachers and students, regarding using Moodle in undergraduate courses in one Campus at the Federal Institute of Rondônia in Brazil. The starting point was an integration of DeLone and McLean's Information Systems Success Model (ISSM) with Davis' Technology Acceptance Model (TAM).Design/methodology/approachA quantitative research approach was adopted. After the definition of the hypotheses, data were collected through self-administered questionnaires. The questionnaires were designed to measure the five constructs: Quality of Information (QI), Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU), Perceived Usefulness (PU), User Satisfaction (US) and Behavioural Intention to use (BI) that make up the conceptual model of the study. The data were analysed based on 144 valid questionnaires. The technique of maximum likelihood estimation was adopted in the data analysis through structural equation modelling (SEM).FindingsThe results confirmed six of the nine hypothesised relationships. QI positively impacts PEOU and US. PEOU positively impacts PU, which in turn positively impacts US and BI. Similarly, US positively impacts Moodle's BI. It was also evidenced that PU is the strongest predictor of US.Practical implicationsThese results can help educational institutions, managers, administrators and designers of e-learning systems to develop strategies to increase Moodle's user satisfaction.Originality/valueThis study provides insights into the perception of students and teachers regarding the use of Moodle. A model that integrates constructs from two models widely used in research related to e-learning (TAM and ISSM) was used in a developing country context. This is important, given cultural differences and social idiosyncrasies in different contexts, particularly in an educational institution in the Amazonia region in northern Brazil.

Clinical Profile, Comorbidities, and Outcome of the Unvaccinated and Hospitalized for COVID-19 in Northern Brazil: Retrospective Cohort

Introduction: Over the course of the pandemic, COVID-19 affected health, the economy and quality of life in Brazil. The worst years for the country were the first and second. There were delays in vaccine purchases for political reasons at the time. The northern region of the country had a higher mortality rate compared to other regions, associated with local vulnerabilities and fragility of surveillance due to geographic and population characteristics.&#x0D; Objective: To investigate the clinical profile, comorbidities, and outcome of unvaccinated people hospitalized for COVID-19 in the state of Pará in 2022.&#x0D; Methods: Retrospective cohort epidemiological study, with data from the national epidemiological surveillance of acute and severe respiratory syndromes. Cases reported in 2022 with vaccinated yes or no field and completed doses were included. Only closed cases cure or death were included. We performed a chi-square test on categorical variables and a Mann-Whitney test on numerical variables. We compared vaccinated VS non-vaccinated; we performed the Odds Ratio in the significant variables. We used the SPSS 20.0 software.&#x0D; Results: The study worked with 2,634 cases of COVID-19 hospitalized in the study period, confirmed by RT-PCR (851/32.30%) and (1,784/67.70%) rapid antigen test. The lethality was (778/29.53%), and those vaccinated with two doses were (1,473/55.90%) and those unvaccinated with no dose (1,162/44.10%). Death represents p- &lt;0.001 (HR 1.306 - CI 1.124/1.517) higher risk of the event occurring in the unvaccinated cases, followed by male sex p-0.004 (HR 1.188 - CI 1.058/1.334).&#x0D; Conclusion: The first cohort in Brazil and in the north of the country to evaluate the clinical profile, comorbidities, and outcome of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients in this Amazon region, which is a region characterized by local vulnerability factors unique to the other regions of Brazil, showed that the unvaccinated were males, younger, with fewer comorbidities, and that they were associated the deaths.

Molecular Survey of Piroplasmids and Hemosporidians in Vampire Bats, with Evidence of Distinct Piroplasmida Lineages Parasitizing Desmodus rotundus from the Brazilian Amazon

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.

Plausible maize planting distribution under future global change scenarios

ContextPopulation expansion has become a trend. To meet the growing demand for crops, the area required for planting crops will also increase in the future. Current research generally assumes that land suitable for crops will generally shrink under global change, which, together with the increased crop demand, poses challenges to food security. ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to access the global maize planting distribution by improving the crop distribution model with a special focus on both environmental and socioeconomic factors under the global change scenarios of SSP245 and SSP385. MethodsWe constructed a crop distribution model that considers both environmental and socioeconomic factors. The environmental factors include topography, soil, and climate variables, while socioeconomic factors include supply-demand balancing, planting inertia, trade, irrigation ratio, and yield progress variables. Through those two aspects, we conducted a comprehensive prediction for the maize planting distribution. Results and conclusionCompared with the statistics, the modelling results of most countries differ slightly from the statistical data (within 20%), which shows that the model has good performance. Based on the projections of the model, the predicted planting area under the SSP245 and SSP385 scenarios in the near-term (2016–2035) increases by 39.86% and 48.70%, and in the mid-term (2046–2065) increases by 56.17% and 75.73%, respectively. In addition, the maize planting zone has decreased in size in the United States, Mexico, northern Brazil, South Africa, and southern Europe. SignificanceOur study provided a comprehensive crop distribution model and projected the global maize planting distribution, emphasizing the importance of socioeconomic factors in crop distribution modelling. Our research could benefit agricultural risk and regional field management.

Spatial Analysis of Tuberculosis Patient Flow in a Neglected Region of Northern Brazil.

Tuberculosis (TB) is still considered a priority due to its high incidence rate in Brazil. In this context, we aimed to evaluate the flow of care between the municipalities of patients diagnosed with TB through notification forms of the Information System for Diseases and Notifications (SINAN) in a neglected region of Northern Brazil, Ilha do Marajó, state of Para. For this, we performed a descriptive, retrospective study on data obtained from the National Register of Health Establishments and SINAN from 2013 to 2018. We used Pearson's Chi-square and G Test with p-value < 0.05 for descriptive statistics and spatial analysis technique on flow network analysis. Of the 749 cases, 16.5% were notified in another municipality that was not the patient's residence. Regarding diagnostic methods, a positive bacterioscopy was adopted for 56% of the patients; culture was not performed for 82% of cases. Histopathological examination was not performed in 90% of the individuals. Rapid molecular test (RMT) was performed in only six (5%) cases. The region needs greater attention focused on diagnostic tests, suggesting that the introduction of RMT and culture by Ogawa-Kudoh could improve the region's health network to minimise patient displacement and thus avoid the increase in the transmission chain of TB.