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The Quadrilátero Ferrífero (QF) is a globally known region for its world-class metallic deposits. Although its Precambrian units have been vastly studied since the 1960s due to economic importance, the Cenozoic geological record represents an upcoming subject of interest. The occurrence of Cenozoic sedimentary deposits has been noticed since the end of the 19th century, but most of them are not yet fully characterized. This paper brings a complete description, mapping, 3D modeling, and simulations of the sedimentary deposit named Bandeira Basin, Serra do Tamanduá, QF. Based on field data, such as mapping and drill core database analysis, three drill cores were selected for further investigation and detailed description. The Bandeira Basin can be characterized and subdivided into three units: Unit A: found only in the southeast area and shows exclusively sediments from the Nova Lima Group; Unit B: intermediate unit that occurs in central and southeast areas, with Rio das Velhas Supergroup as a possible source of the sedimentary material; and Unit C: occurs at the top, and it is essentially colluvial deposits from Minas Supergroup units. The contacts between units are abrupt or erosive, recording successive deposition stages. The basin is thicker on its central and southwest ends and thinner on the east and north, where part of the basement outcrops. Cenozoic tectonic events were probably active in this area, controlling the sedimentary processes, with the NW-SE and NE-SW lineaments reactivated, triggering sediment deposition and migration to the deepest spot of the basin. These sediments were 3D modeled in Leapfrog Geo, the visualization of any given region of interest, in the modeled scale. This methodology allowed an assertive characterization of sedimentary filling and could be applied to other basins. This comprehension is important because these sediments are used indirectly or directly in civil projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Organic carbon performs essential functions in soils, which act as sources or sinks of atmospheric organic carbon. Agricultural management affects the carbon cycle in the soil, with effects on climate change. One of the crops most vulnerable to climate change is coffee. Brazil is the world’s largest coffee producer, with a predominance of management under a conventional system, with sloping terrain and the absence of conservationist practices. The absence of conservationist practices increases in soil loss rates due to water management and carbon emissions, as well as a reduction in coffee production. This paper intended to estimate soil and organic carbon losses by RUSLE in coffee farms in southern Minas Gerais, south-eastern Brazil. Data were obtained from fieldwork, laboratory analysis, and cartographic products. The results indicated, exclusively for coffee crops, soil and carbon losses between 7 and 32 Mg ha−1 year−1 and 87 and 460kg ha−1 year−1, respectively. However, the highest soil losses occurred on sloping terrains with eucalyptus plantations located downhill, and the lowest losses occurred on flat land with native forests. Organic carbon losses were linked directly to soil losses, as a result from the land practices, slope and agricultural management adopted. These results can be used for the planning and priority definition of areas needing conservationist practices, such as green manuring, planting in contour and maintaining of vegetation between coffee rows, which are already used in some sites of the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the work of waste pickers advances urban sustainability, there has been little focus on how climate change impacts affect them. This paper reports on a pilot study with 61 waste pickers in Minas Gerais, Brazil to understand their perspectives on climate change impacts and actions. It explores how waste pickers experience climate change impacts at home and at work, their adaptive strategies and the specific actions and actors needed to address these impacts. Waste pickers have practical knowledge and experience of climate events. But due to precarious employment and lack of access to services, infrastructure and social support, their responses are improvised and inefficient. They require better institutional support and their proposals must be incorporated into a negotiated approach to urban resilience. Proposals such as the climate bonus – similar to the existing recycling bonus – may help address the structural drivers of vulnerability for waste pickers in Minas Gerais. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Gestão Ambiental e Sustentabilidade (GeAS) is the property of Revista de Gestao Ambiental e Sustentabilidade / UNINOVE 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.)

Exceptionally large realizations of hydrometeorological variables summarize our knowledge on the underlying processes under extreme conditions. However, the formal probabilistic modeling of record-breaking precipitation and flooding events has received limited attention from researchers and practitioners, particularly with respect to estimation of the future behavior of the variable of interest once a large magnitude event is observed. This paper discusses the use of the two-parameter Rayleigh distribution for describing the dynamics of record-breaking precipitation events, as well as predicting the distributions of future realizations of the process, on the basis of the theory of records. The main motivation for this study was an unprecedented precipitation event which accumulated 186 mm in 3 h—almost twice the previous record—and caused severe damage in the city of Belo Horizonte, in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. Our results suggested that, before observing this large magnitude event, the evolution of record-breaking precipitation amounts is properly captured by the model. However, this exceptional event was severely underestimated during prediction—the model estimate was more than 80 mm smaller than the observed rainfall amount. On the other hand, the inclusion of this event in inference entailed a lack of fit of the model and strongly disrupted the dynamics of previous record events, which further highlighted the difficulties of dealing with such unexpected large observations of hydrometeorological variables even under theoretically sound mathematical frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlled Human Infection Models (CHIS) involve administering human pathogens to healthy participants in controlled medical settings, which can elicit complex bioethical issues. Understanding how the community perceives such studies can significantly increase the participant's sense of cooperation and increases the researcher's and the participant's transparency. The current study describes the development of an educational intervention to achieve these ends as it aims to (1) analyze perceptions of the Controlled Human Infection Studies (CHIS), and (2) evaluate the participants' comprehension of the CHIS. Methods: This is a qualitative action research that includes the development of an educational intervention with residents of a rural area in Minas Gerais, Brazil, where there is continuous natural transmission of the human pathogen Necator americanus ("hookworm"). In this area, it is intended to carry out a proposed phase 3 vaccine clinical trial in the future to test the efficacy of hookworm vaccines using controlled human infection. Two data collection strategies were used: an educational intervention and a focus group. Results: The participants' perceptions showed distinct perspectives on CHIS. On one side, they recognized that the investigation is essential for the community, but on the other side, they thought that there would be resistance to its conduct by fear of infection. The idea that the study would generate a benefit for the greater good, contributing to the prevention of hookworm infection, was clearly stated. The participants perceived that the study offered concrete risks that could be reduced by constant monitoring by the researchers. They also mentioned the importance of access to information and the positive influence those who express interest in participating in the study can exert in the community. In relation to comprehension the participants memorized the information, mobilized it to explain everyday situations and created strategies to disseminate the study and engage the community in its development. By repeating and making sense of the information, the participant not only assimilates the knowledge transmitted, but also creates new knowledge. Conclusion: We concluded that an educational process of discussion and dialogue around participants' perceptions about the CHIS, promotes understanding and allows ways to disseminate information about the research to be collectively created. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Miroculis (Ommaethus) Savage and Peters, 1983 (Ephemeroptera, Leptophlebiidae) is reviewed based on fresh material from Southeastern Brazil and on type specimens. Miroculis (Ommaethus) cipoensis sp. n. is described based on male and female imagos from Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. It can be distinguished from other species of the subgenus based on the following characteristics: forewings with membrane brown and dark brown mark around cross veins; hind wing uniformly brown; forceps segment I light brown, segment II and III lighter; penis lobe long (at least ⅔ of forceps segment I) and apically rounded and curved on apical ¼; length of body between 5.0 and 6.3 mm. Photographs of fresh material belonging to M. (O.) froehlichi Savage and Peters, 1983 and M. (O.) mourei Savage and Peters, 1983 are provided, clarifying the boundaries between the existing species of the subgenus. Based on that, M. (O.) misionensis Domínguez, 2007 is considered a junior synonym of M. (O.) mourei. A key to the male imagos of the subgenus is presented, as well as a distributional map with updated records of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serra do Padre Ângelo, a quartzitic massif in eastern Minas Gerais, Brazil, was nicknamed "Land of Giants" due to the gigantism observed in some plant species found in its campos rupestres. During fieldwork for the floristic inventory of this Serra, a small Eriocaulaceae species was collected. Initially it was believed to be a new species, but a thorough revision of names and type specimens revealed that it was conspecific with Paepalanthus minimus. This taxon was known only from the type specimen collected over 100 years ago and more than 200 km distant from the new collections. It had been overlooked in previous studies dealing with the family in Brazil, which could be explained by its diminutive size and the poor conditions of the type specimen. Here we present the implications of this rediscovery, including the combination of P. minimus in Giuliettia, a genus recently proposed based on general habit, inflorescence and seed morphology. We also present information on distribution and ecology and briefly discuss the biogeographical pattern that could explain this rediscovery far away from the previous record. Considering its likely local extinction at the type locality and threats to the quality of its remaining habitat, the species is preliminarily assessed as Critically Endangered. This highlights the urgent need for conservation actions to protect Serra do Padre Ângelo and its unique biodiversity. Citation: Andrino C. O., Rocha L. H. & Gonella P. M. 2024: A tiny rediscovery in the Land of Giants: a new combination in Giuliettia (Eriocaulaceae, Poales) and other implications of finding Paepalanthus minimus again. – Willdenowia 54: 81–93. Version of record first published online on 11 April 2024 ahead of inclusion in April 2024 issue. A Serra do Padre Ângelo, um maciço quartzítico no leste de Minas Gerais, Brasil, foi apelidada de "Terra de Gigantes" devido ao gigantismo observado em algumas espécies de plantas encontradas em seus campos rupestres. Durante o trabalho de campo para o inventário florístico desta Serra, uma pequena espécie de Eriocaulaceae foi coletada. Inicialmente, acreditava-se ser uma nova espécie, mas uma revisão minuciosa dos nomes e espécimes tipo revelou que ela era na verdade conspecífica com Paepalanthus minimus. Esse táxon era conhecido apenas pelo espécime tipo, coletado há mais de 100 anos e a mais de 200 km das novas coletas, tendo passado despercebido em estudos anteriores sobre a família no Brasil, o que pode ser explicado pelo seu tamanho diminuto e pelas condições precárias do espécime tipo. Aqui, apresentamos as implicações dessa redescoberta, incluindo a combinação de P. minimus em Giuliettia, um gênero recentemente proposto, com base em seu hábito geral, morfologia da inflorescência e da semente. Também fornecemos informações sobre a distribuição e ecologia, e discutimos brevemente o padrão biogeográfico que poderia explicar essa redescoberta tão distante do registro anterior. Considerando sua provável extinção local na localidade tipo e as ameaças à qualidade de seu habitat remanescente, a espécie é preliminarmente avaliada como Criticamente em Perigo. Isso destaca a necessidade urgente de ações de conservação para proteger a Serra do Padre Ângelo e sua biodiversidade única. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal 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.)

Mineral extraction is of ultimate importance for the economies of different countries, and Brazil is one of the world's leading producers of iron ores. Unfortunately, dams are still the main problem, mainly in Minas Gerais, especially after the Fundão Dam rupture in 2015. Additionally, there is still a massive presence of buildings built on earth throughout the Minas Gerais mining region, built from the 18th century to today. Investigating the potential of iron ore tailings (IOT) to be incorporated into traditional earthen construction techniques in regions affected by dam ruptures presents a relevant and innovative research approach. In addition, the local reuse of these sediments should be the priority. Thus, the main objective of this work was to collect, characterize, and analyze the possibilities of the application of these tailings to produce rammed earth (RE). A complete characterization analysis was performed on the samples collected at three points. To analyze the soil-IOT compatibility, representative mixtures of RE were produced, and the specific mass, compaction, and compressive strength were performed. It was observed that the IOT samples have a high silica content and that the mixtures of IOT–soil, even without cement, reached the compressive strength values of the international standards, or even above them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims -- With 40 species, Brazil is the centre of diversity for Vanilla. Frederico Carlos Hoehne described eight Vanilla species for the Brazilian flora, including Vanilla schwackeana, an obscure taxon currently assumed to be a synonym of V. planifolia. While studying Neotropical Vanilla, plants were found in gallery forests of the Vale do Rio Doce region, Minas Gerais, south-eastern Brazil. Based on the examination of the protologues of the Brazilian species, in addition to the study of herbarium specimens, it was verified that the plants correspond to the rare V. schwackeana. Material and methods -- A redescription of V. schwackeana is provided, and a morphological comparison with other Neotropical taxa is presented. An illustration of V. schwackeana based on living specimens is provided, and its geographic distribution is presented based on recent findings. The position of V. schwackeana within Vanilla is discussed based on both morphological data and a molecular phylogeny. Key results -- Vanilla schwackeana is distinguishable by its pseudopetiolate leaves, by its largely elliptic to obelliptic leaf blades with attenuate base and acuminate apex, by its apical racemes with small flowers, by its yellow labellum with white undulate-crenulate margins, and by its papillous appendages on the apical portion of the labellar crest. Both morphological and molecular data suggest a close relationship of V. schwackeana with V. appendiculata, V. hartii, and the Brazilian endemic V. rupicola. Based on current data, V. schwackeana is assessed as Critically Endangered. Conclusion -- Integrative taxonomy was crucial to understand the identity and species boundaries of V. schwackeana. The V. appendiculata/V. schwackeana/(V. hartii/V. rupicola) clade comprises an unrecognized infrageneric Vanilla group. It seems plausible that the formation of a new infrageneric group will be necessary. As the habitat of V. schwackeana has been devastated by iron ore extraction, conservation strategies for this Brazilian endemic species will be necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Germination is a simple and cost-effective technology that enhances the technological, sensory, and nutritional potential of grains, making them more attractive for use in the food industry. Germinating indigenous seeds is an alternative to increase noticeability and add value to these grains, which hold social and economic significance in the regions where they are cultivated, such as creole purple pericarp corn (PPCC) from the Couto Magalhães de Minas region in Brazil. This study aimed to optimize the germination parameters of time (24–96 h) and temperature (18–32 °C) for PPCC to produce water-soluble extracts and bread. Endogenous enzymes resulting from the germination process significantly enhanced (p < 0.10) the technological (total reducing sugars, total soluble solids, and soluble proteins) and biological properties (γ-aminobutyric acid, total soluble phenolic compounds, and antioxidant capacity) of the water-soluble extracts. The optimum point for obtaining the extracts was found to be at 85.3 h at 30.46 °C (with desirability of 90.42%), and this was statistically validated. The incorporation of germinated PPCC flours into bread was also promising (p < 0.10) and had a positive impact on the dough property (dough volume increase) and the final product, especially in terms of instrumental texture (springiness, cohesiveness, gumminess, chewiness, and resilience), resulting in a softer texture (lower firmness and hardness). The addition of PPCC flours did not alter instrumental color parameters, which may lead to greater consumer acceptance due to imperceptible differences in color to untrained individuals, with the optimized point at 96 h at 29.34 °C, with a desirability of 92.60%. Therefore, germinated PPCC shows promise for use as a base for obtaining water-soluble extracts and in bread as a replacement for commercial flour improvers, while also adding value to a raw material that is part of the local culture and agrobiodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]