No-bodies: law, raciality and violence

Quando é que se tornou uma trivialidade – mais do que uma evidência, mas ainda não uma “verdade” óbvia – o fato de que um número considerável (cuja dimensão talvez nunca seja conhecida) de jovens do sexo masculino e do sexo feminino sucumbe como sujeitos da violência infringida para preservação da lei? Neste artigo, esse questionamento guia uma reflexão acerca de uma dimensão da existência global contemporânea que deveria se tornar tema da teoria política. Descreve-se, aqui, um cenário político no qual os braços do Estado – a polícia e o Exército – empregam total violência como tática de regulação. Mais especificamente, faz-se uma leitura das ocupações empreendidas pelo Estado nas regiões economicamente desfavorecidas – onde os traficantes de drogas competem para instituir a “lei do lugar” – como representações de um tipo diferente de contrato de fundação, significantes da violência racial. Nessa abordagem do cenário político (ético-jurídico), os corpos mortos dos adolescentes negros e mulatos contam não como baixas de guerras urbanas, mas como significantes do horizonte da morte, pois a existência dos sujeitos raciais subalternos resultantes das ferramentas da racialidade (diferença racial e cultura) se revela em territórios onde o Estado atua apenas em nome da sua própria preservação

A política de distribuição de terras no Brasil a partir de 1988

“Anais da 2a Semana Acadêmica de Ciência Política e Sociologia: Violência e Democracia na América Latina.” - 09, 10 e 11 de Novembro de 2016. Realização: Curso de Graduação em Ciência Política e Sociologia - Sociedade, Estado e Política na América Latina. Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-Americana (Unila) - Estado e Políticas PúblicasO Brasil é um dos países mais desiguais do mundo. As raízes dessa desigualdade social remontam ao período colonial e permanecem até os dias atuais não apenas como uma herança da forma de ocupação do território nacional pelos portugueses, mas sobretudo, como uma decorrência da opção das lideranças e das elites nacionais, mancomunadas com o grande capital, por modelo de desenvolvimento desigual e dependente, segundo o qual foram historicamente priorizados os processos de crescimento econômico subordinados aos interesses dominantes, em detrimento das políticas redistributivas destinadas à socialização da riqueza social. A redistribuição de terras e a necessidade de políticas de enfrentamento da complexa questão agrária existente no país. Parte-se do pressuposto de que o crescimento, em si, não é condição suficiente para reduzir a desigualdade socioeconômica existente no Brasil e entendendo que a execução de políticas redistributivas amplas, permanentes e estruturais, tais como a redistribuição de terras, são imprescindíveis para atingir esse objetivo, nesta pesquisa buscar-se-á “investigar e discutir a política de distribuição de terras no Brasil a partir de 1988, bem como suas incidências sobre a desigualdade socioeconômica”. Cabe observar que, somente com a promulgação da CF/88, a reforma agrária passa a compor o direito constitucional brasileiro. Por fim, a despeito dos avanços conquistados por meio da luta dos movimentos sociais populares, a concentração da propriedade da terra continua muito elevada, revelando a questão agrária como um dos maiores desafios para a superação das profundas desigualdades socioeconômicas nacionaisRealização: Curso de Graduação em Ciência Política e Sociologia - Sociedade, Estado e Política na América Latina. Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-Americana (Unila

First records of Utricularia tenuissima Tutin and U. nigrescens Sylvén (Lentibulariaceae) in north-eastern Brazil

In Brazil, there are records of Utricularia tenuissima Tutin and U. nigrescens Sylvén from some states in the north, southeast, west-center and south. This work reveals the first records of these two species in the northeast region of Brazil. These species were found on the Reserva Biológica Guaribas, a protected remnant of Atlantic Forest in Paraíba state, and also in a particular area of sugar cane crop at the limit of the Reserve. The habitats are characterized by wetlands, surrounded by natural springs and partially shaded by herbaceous vegetation. In addition to this expansion in the distribution of these species, there are also differences in their morphometric measurements when compared with the measurements presented in the principal work for description of both species.

Are green walls a suitable environmental compensation in densifying cities? Quantifying the urban microclimate effects at the pedestrian level in Sao Paulo

In the city of Sao Paulo, green spaces are few and uneven. Between 2015-2018, to increase greenery, the municipality promoted green walls as an environmental compensation solution for the loss of urban trees. This study aimed to quantify the impact of these green façades on urban microclimate at the pedestrian level, considering the following variables: air temperature, air humidity, and mean radiant temperature. We reviewed local planning documents and the microclimatic performance of green wall technologies, establishing the effects of wall greening based on simulations — using the ENVI-met V4 Science model. Although the main difference was measured 15 cm far from the walls’ surface, the 60 cm away differences from the green wall were insignificant. The results indicate: (a) the impact of the green walls on outdoor microclimates at the pedestrian level is minimum, and (b) Sao Paulo’s policy for environmental compensation using green walls was poorly supported by scientific evidence. Therefore, green walls are a highly questionable alternative for environmental compensation from the perspective of urban microclimate. As much as promoting green walls for potential benefits is desirable, they are unsuitable to compensate the range of ecosystem services lost by the elimination of trees

The bee community (Hymenoptera, Apidae) of Ilha Grande, Babitonga bay, Santa Catarina State, Brazil: structure, insularity and interaction network

Island biotic communities tend to be less diverse than mainland communities. This work aimed to describe the bee community of Ilha Grande, Babitonga Bay, Santa Catarina, Brazil, and its interactions with floral resources. Entomological net-sweeps were used to collect bees in flight or on flowering plants for 7 hours a day, monthly, for two years. A total of 785 specimens were sampled in the field, belonging to 50 species or morphotypes with four indeterminate individuals. The most representative subfamilies were Apinae (58.59%), Halictinae (40.43%), Colletinae (0.8%) and Megachilinae (0.1%), while the most abundant species were Apis mellifera (305 individuals), Dialictus sp. 1 (182) and Dialictus sp. 2 (32). The presence of Apis mellifera decreased diversity throughout the year. Relative abundance and richness of Halictinae were greater on the island on mainland. Richness of Apinae was lower on the island than that on the mainland due to the absence of Meliponina. A total of 55 botanical species were identified in association with bees, with Schinus terebinthifolius (105 visits) being the most visited. Interaction network metrics indicate an asymmetric, nested, and poorly specialized network. The results corroborate the Theory of Island Biogeography and demonstrate little interference/favoring of some taxa as well as the absence of others

Violence against children in Brazil and child suffering: A psychological outlook

Violence against children is a subject of wide-ranging discussion, which has been gradually taking up more space over the years both in academia and in the media. This qualitative study deals with a literature review of some of the most recurrent forms of violence experienced in childhood: sexual exploitation and abuse, psychological violence, neglect and physical violence. In continuity, we present some possible causes of violence against children, and in conclusion, we point out the consequences of the abuse endured while in childhood. These situations of family violence perpetrated during childhood create afflictions in children and are the origin of childhood and teenage psychopathologies which often remain throughout adult life. Children become psychically ill due to the violence they suffer or witness within the family, seeing as what should be their safe space becomes the captivity in which they must live with the tormentors whom they support, since they are children

Antitumor effect of Bothrops jararaca venom.

Many experimental studies have been carried out using snake venoms for the treatment of animal tumors, with controversial results. While some authors have reported an antitumor effect of treatment with specific snake venom fractions, others have reported no effects after this treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Bothrops jararaca venom (BjV) on Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT) cells in vivo and in vitro. In the in vivo study, Swiss mice were inoculated with EAT cells by the intraperitoneal (i.p.) route and treated with BjV venom (0.4 mg/kg, i.p.), on the 1st, 4th, 7th, 10th, and 13th days. Mice were evaluated for total and differential cells number on the 2nd, 5th, 8th, 11th and 14th days. The survival time was also evaluated after 60 days of tumor growth. In the in vitro study, EAT and normal peritoneal cells were cultivated in the presence of different BjV concentrations (2.5, 5.0, 10.0, 20.0, 40.0, and 80 microg) and viability was verified after 3, 6, 12 and 24 h of cultivation. Results were analyzed statistically by the Kruskal-Wallis and Tukey tests at the 5% level of significance. It was observed that in vivo treatment with BjV induced tumor growth inhibition, increased animal survival time, decreased mortality, increased the influx of polymorphonuclear leukocytes on the early stages of tumor growth, and did not affect the mononuclear cells number. In vitro treatment with BjV produced a dose-dependent toxic effect on EAT and peritoneal cells, with higher effects against peritoneal cells. Taken together, our results demonstrate that BjV has an important antitumor effect. This is the first report showing this in vivo effect for this venom

Cytokine profile of Ehrlich ascites tumor treated with Bothrops jararaca venom.

We previously demonstrated that Bothrops jararaca venom (BjV) has an antitumor effect on Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT) cells and induces an increase of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in early stages of tumor growth. It has been reported that this venom presents an important inflammatory effect when inoculated in animal models and in human snakebites, and that cytokine levels have been detected in these cases. To evaluate whether the cytokines can be involved with the suppression of the tumoral growth, we evaluate the cytokine profile in the peritoneal cavity of mice inoculated with EAT cells and treated with BjV. Swiss mice were inoculated with EAT cells by the intraperitoneal route and treated with BjV venom (0.4 mg/kg, intraperitoneally), on the 1st, 4th, 7th, 10th, and 13th day. Mice were evaluated for cytokine levels on the 2nd, 5th, 8th, 11th and 14th day. Analysis was performed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for interleukin (IL)-1alpha, IL-2, IL4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels in the peritoneal washing supernatant. Results were analyzed statistically by the Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's tests at the 5% level of significance. We observed that EAT implantation induces IL-6 production on the 11th and 14th days of tumor growth, IL-10 on the 11th day and TNF-alpha on the 14th day. The treatment with BjV suppresses production of these cytokines. In addition, IL-13 was produced by animals that were inoculated only with venom on the 11th and 14th days, and by the group inoculated with EAT cells and treated with venom on the 2nd and 14th days. Furthermore, we suggest that the IL-6 detected in the present study is produced by the EAT cells and the suppression of its production could be associated with the antitumor effect of BjV