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Simple Summary: The use of compost-bedded pack barn (CBP) systems for dairy cattle housing can improve animal welfare and herd productivity, but it is necessary that the bedding is properly managed. Therefore, evaluating the bedding quality conditions in this confinement system is paramount, as the results obtained can be used as a basis for adequate management. In this study, bedding attributes were mapped in a CBP with positive pressure ventilation. From the mapping, it was possible to identify areas with unsuitable conditions for the staying of the cows (surface) and for the composting process (at 0.2 m depth). The results achieved in this study can be used to guide decision-making processes regarding bedding management in this housing system. The objective of this study was to characterize the dependence and spatial distribution of bedding attributes in an open compost-bedded pack barn (CBP) system with positive pressure ventilation during the winter period in Brazil. The study was conducted in July 2021, in the Zona da Mata region, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The bedding area (shavings and wood sawdust) was divided into a mesh with 44 equidistant points. At each point, the bedding temperature at the surface (tB-sur) and at a depth of 0.2 m (tB-20) and the air velocity at bedding level (vair,B) were measured, and bedding samples were collected. The bedding samples were used to determine the moisture level and pH at the surface (MB-sur e pHB-sur) and at a depth of 0.2 m (MB-20 and pHB-20). The spatial behavior of the variables was evaluated using geostatistics techniques. For all variables, the occurrence of strong spatial dependence was verified. Through the maps, it was observed that tB-sur, tB-20, MB-sur, MB-20, and vair,B showed high spatial variability, whereas pHB-sur and pHB-20 demonstrated low variation. On the surface, values of tB-sur < 20 °C and MB-sur > 60% were observed. At the subsurface, there was a predominance of tB-20 < 40 °C, MB-20 > 60%, and pH > 9, which are indications of low bedding composting activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to conduct an up-to-date investigation on the occurrence levels of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in samples of raw milk (n = 40), pasteurized milk (n = 44), ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk (n = 27), Minas cheese (n = 57), and yogurt (n = 44) traded in São Paulo state, Brazil. AFM1 was extracted from fluid milks and dairy products using immunoaffinity columns and determined by high performance liquid chromatography. AFM1 was detected at the mean level of 0.080 ± 0.071 µg/L or kg in 72 samples (34.0%) evaluated in the study (n = 212). Detectable levels of AFM1 were observed in five samples of raw milk (12.5%), 16 samples of pasteurized milk (36.4%), 13 samples of UHT milk (48.1%), 27 samples of cheese (47.4%), and 11 samples of yogurt (25.0%), although none of them had concentrations above the maximum permitted levels (MPL) for AFM1 adopted in Brazil. However, 11.7% (n = 13) of samples of raw, pasteurized, and UHT milks would have AFM1 concentrations above the MPL of 0.05 μg/L adopted in the EU. The maximum level was detected in one cheese sample containing 0.695 µg/kg. Although none of the samples exceeded the Brazilian MPL, the high frequencies of AFM1 in Brazilian milk products warrant concern about their contribution to the human exposure to aflatoxins. Because aflatoxins are among the most potent carcinogens known, the results of this trial stress the need for stringent measures in the milk production system to avoid AFM1 in milk and derived products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Adequate environmental conditions are essential to ensure the wellbeing and productivity of dairy cattle. The use of compost-bedded pack barn (CBP) systems in dairy farming certainly improves animal welfare conditions, but it is necessary to evaluate and characterize the thermal environment inside the facilities. The main objective of this study was to map the thermal environment inside a CBP system with positive-pressure ventilation. Through mapping, it was possible to identify regions with more challenging conditions for animals in terms of thermal comfort. The results achieved can be used to direct decision-making processes to create adequate environmental conditions for the hosted animals. The objective of this study was to evaluate and characterize the dependence and the spatial and temporal distribution of variables and indices of the thermal environment in an open compost-bedded pack barn system with positive-pressure ventilation (CBPPV) during the winter period. The study was conducted in a CBPPV system located in the Zona da Mata region, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The indoor environment was divided into a mesh composed of 55 equidistant points, where data on dry-bulb air temperature (tdb) and relative humidity (RH) were collected. The collected data were divided into four periods—dawn, morning, afternoon, and night—and mean values were obtained. To evaluate the thermal microenvironment, the temperature and humidity index (THI) and the specific enthalpy of air (h) were used. For spatial dependence analysis, geostatistical techniques were applied. Through the results, a strong spatial dependence was verified for all variables evaluated. Through THI and h maps, conditions of thermal comfort were found for dairy cattle. The highest values of tdb, THI, and h were recorded in the afternoon period in the northwest region of the facility (tdb = 23.2 °C, THI = 69.7, and h = 50.9 kJ∙kg of dry air−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to implement and analyze the effect of the Single Minute Exchange of Die (SMED) implementation in the bean packaging operation in a company in east Minas Gerais, Brazil. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research methodology used was action research. Two cycles of action research were conducted; the first to carry out phase one of SMED, and the second to execute phases two and three. Originality/Research gap: There are few studies on the application of Lean Manufacturing tools in agroindustry. Some works present case studies, mainly in the food supply chain aiming to fill this gap. Regarding SMED applied in agribusiness, no work was found. Key statistical results: The implementation of this methodology allowed the reduction of setup time by around 58%, the distance travelled by operators in the process by approximately 50%, in addition to gains in a production capacity of 14%. Practical Implications: It is concluded that the application of the methodology caused an increase in the company's productivity, as it was possible to obtain gains in productive capacity without changing the amount of hours worked or the number of employees involved in the production process. Limitations of the investigation: This methodology was applied only once and the challenges encountered were not documented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several environmental impacts are resulting from the process of anthropization and climate variability that have caused degradation of biomes and humid environments. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the anthropic process and the variation of climatic conditions on the dynamics of the marsh vegetation in the Pandeiros River preservation area in the north of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) of product MOD13Q1 and the gross primary productivity (GPP) of product MOD17A2 of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) were used for the period from 2001 to 2017 were used in this process. Rain and air temperature data were obtained from the Conventional Weather Station of Januária-MG. The time series were submitted to the nonparametric statistical test of Mann-Kendall. The process of anthropization of the swamp area in the environmental protection area of the Pandeiros River/MG (EPA) showed a pattern of expansion of vegetation cover associated with the reduction of the water table, a phenomenon resulting from the silting process and reduction of the incidence of rain in this region, which contributes to the reduction of ecosystem services. Thus, understanding the influence of climatic variables on the dynamics of vegetation in humid environments, such as the EPA swamp area on the Pandeiros River, is essential for the preservation and recovery of these ecosystems and for the implementation of public policies for preservation and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: to verify the barriers found by adolescent mothers for early adherence to prenatal care. Method: this is a descriptive, retrospective and qualitative study, carried out with 10 adolescent mothers who started prenatal care late in a health unit in the city of Serranópolis de Minas, Minas Gerais. Data were collected between November and December 2016 and analyzed according to the thematic analysis technique. Results: the participants had low income and low education. Fear, for several reasons, and the lack of knowledge associated with socioeconomic variables appeared as barriers that may justify the late start of prenatal care. Conclusion: it is important to develop actions to identify adolescents most vulnerable to risky behaviors for pregnancy and health education programs in the spaces occupied by this audience in order to guide adolescents in relation to sexuality and teenage pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This article aims to examine the destination done by the Legislature to the resolutions of the General Councils (particularly the Chamber of Deputies), institution that constituted the main locus of provincial politics in terms of representation of local sectors and proposing unique projects to the provinces 'Doutor em História Social pelo Programa de Pós-Graduação em História Social da Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas da Universidade de São Paulo. between first Empire and the beginning of the Regency. The common thread of analysis will be the performance of elected Minas Gerais deputies for the first two terms (1826-1829 and 1830-1833) considering the resolutions during the General Council of Minas Gerais. The goal is to demonstrate a complex web - institutional aspects, different conceptions of representation, local interests, political struggle - that marked local demands on the Parliament, contributing to the debate around the role played by provincial groups in the early construction of the Brazilian empire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The Cerrado is an important biome and should be studied at different scales. • Reduced rainfall, increased air temperature and fires in the Brazilian Cerrado. • Loss of vegetation cover in APA associated with human disturbance. • The ARIMA model can be used to simulate past and future time series of EVI. The Cerrado is considered the most biodiverse savanna in the world, as well as the second largest Brazilian Biome. In recent decades, primarily due to agricultural expansion and wildfires, this biome has been severely degraded, losing nearly 50% of its original vegetation. This study aims to evaluate the degradation dynamics of the Cerrado vegetation as a function of human activity and climate variability. Products related to vegetation index (MOD13Q1) and an imaging spectroradiometer with moderate resolution from 2001 to 2018 were used to calculate the vegetation degradation index (VDI), which considers the vegetation cover as a function of human actions (deforestation, forest fires, agriculture, and farming). Rain and air temperature data were obtained from the Conventional Weather Station of Januária-Minas Gerais. Fire foci data were calculated using the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer - MODIS MCD14DL product sensor (TERRA/AQUA). Specifically, this study focused on the degradation of the vegetation in the Pandeiros River EPA (environmental protection area) that has increased due to the variability of climatic conditions, forest fires, and agricultural activities. The dry season provided greater sensitivity for the evaluation of the vegetation degradation process of the Pandeiros River EPA. The negative effects observed from the variation of climatic conditions and anthropogenic actions on the vegetation dynamics of the Pandeiros River EPA demand greater attention from administrative bodies on strategies for the conservation, preservation, and management of natural resources of conservation areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]