City Of Lavras Research Articles

Impact of Limited-Access Green Spaces on the Qualitative and Quantitative Indices of a City

Urban green spaces (UGSs) are fragments of city vegetation capable of providing numerous benefits, which can be measured through indices. However, even though public green spaces (PGSs) are accounted for in such indices as areas that can generate positive impacts, private green spaces (PrGSs) are not considered. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the impact and feasibility of the inclusion of limited-access green spaces (LAGSs—a type of PrGS—in green area index (GAI) and green space ratio (GSR) calculations, within the city of Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil, as a model. By employing geotechnologies, private squares and spaces were identified. On-site visits were employed to determine the functions (aesthetic, ecological, and/or leisure) of such spaces. For LAGSs, only those with an index higher than 50% permeability were included. The calculated indices for PGSs are as follows: PGS index (PGSI) = 0.53 m2/inhabitant, PGS ratio (PGSR) = 0.27%, and total green space (TGS) = 62,067 m2. Taking LAGSs into account, the indices are as follows: LAGS index (LAGSI) = 3.76 m2/inhabitant, LAGS ratio (LAGSR) = 1.92%, and TGS = 443,309.03 m2. The results of the analyses carried out in this study allow us to conclude that LAGSs contribute significantly to the increase in the GAI and GSR in Lavras and, therefore, to the city's environmental quality. Such spaces surpass, in extension, those of the public domain and should be included in UGS calculations when assessing the green infrastructure of cities.

Facing the COVID-19 pandemic with science and practice

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a health system crisis, deaths and socioeconomic hardship. In order to minimize the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in the municipality of Lavras, a partnership was developed between the Lavras City Hall and the Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA). The present study aimed to describe the main prevention measures proposed in Lavras and to evaluate the community's perception of the management model towards COVID-19. A public online questionnaire, with 20 multiple-choice questions, about the measures to confront covid was submitted to the Google Forms platform from April 22nd to April 30th, 2020. The data regarding the strategies carried out to deal with COVID-19 was obtained from the published municipal ordinances. During the eight days that the questionnaire was applied, a total of 8,874 respondents from Lavras were obtained. Among these respondents, 31.64% (2,808) were men, 68.15% (6,047) were women, and 0.21% (19) declared "another option". When the participants were asked whether they are respecting the social distance measures, 7,452 (84.1%) of them answered "yes."Also, a total of 57.4% of the participants reported that the social distancing measures compromised their family income. However, despite the impact of this economic compromise on these families, 93.82% of the respondents believe that the measures applied are important. When analyzing the questionnaire responses, it was noticeable that despite residents suffering negative economic consequences, there was great popular approval of preventive measures, such as social distancing and the use of masks. In addition, it was possible to notice the population's trust in the measures recommended by professionals at UFLA and the city hall, highlighting the importance of establishing contact between authorities and the population during decision making.

Quality evaluation and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis of commercial samples of chamomile in the city of Lavras - MG, Brazil

Quality evaluation and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis of commercial samples of chamomile in the city of Lavras - MG, Brazil

Impacts of seed-feeding beetles and their parasitoids on seed germination of Leucaena leucocephala and Senna multijuga (Fabaceae) in Brazil

We investigated the influence of seed-feeding beetles (Chrysomelidae, Bruchinae) and their parasitoids on the germination performance of two Fabaceae, Leucaena leucocephala and Senna multijuga. We collected 150 fruits per species in forest fragments in the city of Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil, between July and August 2020. Seeds were examined and separated into predated and non-predated categories. The predated category was divided into two subcategories: predated by Coleoptera (Bruchinae) (PCO) and predated in the presence of Coleoptera parasitoids (PARCO). The non-predated category was divided into artificially injured (AI), intact seeds without insect infestation (IS), and intact seeds with insect infestation (SIF). Seeds of S. multijuga and L. leucocephala germinated to 40% and 30%, respectively. PCO and PARCO seeds not only had a negative and restricting influence on S. multijuga germination (no germination) but also contributed to a large proportion of non-viable predated seeds (38%). PCO (7%) and PARCO (23%), on the other hand, improved L. leucocephala germination. This work represents one of the first attempt to evaluate the parasitoid effect on seeds germination. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the effect of herbivore predation and the presence of parasitoids on host plant seed germination, which can be critical to mother plant fitness depending on plant species. Further studies are necessary to determine the extend seed consumption by beetles and the presence of their parasitoids may facilitate or impair seed germination, and consequently plant fitness in other systems.

The Trajectory of the Landscape and Functionality of Urban Watercourses: A Study of Lavras City, Brazil

The growth of the urban population promotes a strong pressure to occupy open spaces in urban center, including around watercourses. Canalization and drainage techniques favored urban expansion and occupation of these spaces. In long term, this has not been efficient, since it is not a sustainable decision, mainly in view of the challenges provided by climate change. The purpose of this work was to analyze the modification of the landscape and multifunctionality of the urban watercourses in relation to socioeconomic and environmental scope of the evolution of an urban area using Lavras city, Brazil, as model. For that, city's hydrographic grid was drawn from the digital elevation model (DEM) corrected by manual vectorization after field visits and analysis of high-resolution images. To understand natural and sociocultural evolution processes, a compilation of geo-historical information about the origin and formation of the city was made using Patchwork Quilt methodology. To understand the actions and perceptions of different actors from urban watercourses in Lavras, questionnaires were applied to the population, and interviews were directed to the public and private managers. It was observed that the watercourses and their surroundings lost a large part of their natural, social, and economic functions, after the 1980s, only having a drainage function. The areas in expansion prioritize the natural function preservation but lack the incentive to implement the other functions such as social and economic. With the economic valuation of land, the implementation of green and blue infrastructure has not yet been prioritized. Even with the legislation that provides multifunctional uses for rivers and their banks, the urban watercourses from Lavras remained largely monofunctional. This did not contribute to increasing the city's green areas and the reintegration of watercourses into the urban landscape. The population values the water present in the urban landscape and yearns for multifunctional solutions such as green areas and urban gardens. Public and private actors recognize the lack of clarity in the legislation, and in the definition of concepts and techniques to be adopted. Multifunctional solutions can be in favor of reconciling different interests, promoting the reintegration of rivers into the urban landscape.

Food and Nutrition Education Using Intuitive Method and NOVA Food Classification: Implications for Food Practices of Children and Adolescents Intuitive Method in Food and Nutrition Education.

To evaluate the impact of food and nutrition education interventions based on the intuitive method (IM) proposed by Johaan Henrich Pestalozzi (1746-1827) at different time periods on the food practices of children and adolescents. This was a prospective comparative intervention program assessed by a pre-post survey at shorter term (3months) and longer term (6months). Two institutions that provide extracurricular social support for children and adolescents with social and economic vulnerabilities in the city of Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The shorter-term intervention was conducted in Institution A and the longer term one conducted in Institution B. The sample consisted of 245 students aged between 5 and 14years who attended the institutions. For each institution, they were divided into two groups (control and IM). We compared the effectiveness of the interventions performed by the IM or by expository actions (control) in both institutions. Interventions were focused on the guidelines of the Food Guide for the Brazilian Population and dealt with food choices, meal preparation, commensality, and obstacles to healthy eating. The assessed outcomes were food consumption according to NOVA food classification, cooking self-efficacy, and knowledge about food and nutrition. Paired t-tests were used to compare food consumption before and after interventions. Adjusted logistic regression models were used to analyze the outcomes on food and nutrition knowledge and cooking self-efficacy. Subjects receiving IM interventions decreased mean intake of ultra-processed food (3.56 to 1.50 portions; P< .001) and had greater odds of increasing self-efficacy with cooking (OR = 2,33-4,17). Both methods were effective regarding teaching about food and nutrition. Intervention period did not homogeneously impact these outcomes. The use of food and nutrition education interventions presented positive outcomes on the food practices of the participants. The IM is an alternative method to educate children and adolescents about healthy eating practices.

Different types of soil mulches in the leaf anatomy and physiology of 'BRS Platina' banana in a non-irrigated management

• The mulches increased chlorophyll content in leaves of banana plants. • The mulches increased gas exchanges characteristics. • The mulches does not influenced anatomical characteristics. • The mulches does not influenced relative water content. • The mulches does not influenced in the protoplasmic tolerance. Banana is among the world´s most popular fruits and it is consolidated in the international market. The largest abiotic constraint threatening banana production is water stress, in rainfed area, judicious use of water is essential for increasing the area under crop production with inadequate water supply. Under such situation the uses of moisture conservation measures are essential, such as the use of mulching of organic materials and synthetic materials. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of different mulches types in physiological and anatomical characteristics of banana 'BRS Platina' in a non-irrigated management. The experiment was conducted on a farm, located in the city of Lavras. The treatments were: black polyethylene films, double-sided polyethylene films (white and black), organic mulch and control (bare soil). The analyzes performed in the first and second crop were: anatomical analyses, gas exchanges, chlorophyll content, relative chlorophyll index, relative water content, and protoplasmic tolerance. Correlation analysis evidenced the association between yield parameters photosynthetic rate, and stomatal conductance, with high and medium correlation values respectively. Correlations were also observed between chlorophyll a and b , and number of fruits, and number of hands, with high and medium correlation values respectively. Both organic and inorganic (plastic film) mulch are efficient in increasing chlorophyll content and gas exchanges characteristics, but do not influence the anatomical characteristics, relative water content, and protoplasmic tolerance in the first and second crop. Both organic and inorganic (plastic film) mulch can be used in the cultivation of banana 'BRS Platina' under non-irrigated management.

STUDY OF TESTS FOR TREND IN TIME SERIES

The time series methodology is an important tool when using data over time. The time series can be composed of the components trend (Tt), seasonality (St) and the random error (at). The aim of this study was to evaluate the tests used to analyze the trend component, which were: Pettitt, Run, Mann-Kendall, Cox-Stuart and the unit root tests (Dickey-Fuller, Dickey-Fuller Augmented and Zivot and Andrews), given that there is a discrepancy between the test results found in the literature. The four series analyzed were the maximum temperature in the Lavras city, MG, Brazil, the unemployment rate in the Metropolitan Region of S~ao Paulo (RMSP), the Broad Consumer Price Index (IPCA) and the nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Brazil. It was found that the unit root tests showed similar results in relation to the presence of the stochastic trend for all series. Furthermore, the turning point of the Pettitt test diverged from all the structural breaks found through the Zivot and Andrews test, except for the GDP series. Therefore, it was found that the trend tests diverged, obtaining similar results only in relation to the unemployment series.

Distribution of urban green spaces: Comparative analysis between cities in different countries

Abstract The presence of urban green spaces (UGS) increases the human’s contact with nature and provides numerous benefits to the society and the local environment. In this way, analyzing, planning and stimulating the implementation of UGS in cities is a fundamental action to improve the life quality of urban society. In this context, the aim was to analyze the situation and distribution of the green spaces of the universities cities of Lavras, Minas Gerais State (Brazil) and Newark, Delaware (USA). For data collection, researches performed field visits and used aerial photography to survey and analysis before calculating indicators including green area index (GAI) and green space ratio (GSR). The city of Lavras has a GAI of 0.54 m2 inh-1. The GSR value was 0.29%, not meeting the minimum of 5% required by local municipal law. Furthermore, there is a bad distribution of UGSs in the urban framework. However, in Newark, the distribution of UGSs is homogeneous and covers all regions of the city. The calculated GAI was 50.2 m² inh-1 and the GSR has met the 7% minimum required by its Newark Municipal Law. When comparing the two cities, in different countries and conditions it is concluded that Newark (DE) presents UGS indicators, GAI (m² inh-1) and GSR (%), higher than the values obtained in Lavras (MG), indicating the need for Government actions to increase these values.

STATISTICAL MODELING OF QUARRYING ACTIVITIES AND THEIR IMPACT ON RESIDENTS’ SATISFACTION

This research aims to analyse the impact of quarrying on the health and perception of neighbouring communities. A standard questionnaire survey was conducted to collect data from quarry neighbours in a residential neighbourhood located in the city of Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Residences were distributed based on proximity to a quarrying company, resulting in three distances divided by three equally distant radii, named as Area I (closest to the quarrying company at 630 m), Area II (730 m), and Area III (farthest from the quarrying company at 830 m). Data gathered from 177 residents were analysed with logistic regression models. Results indicated significant differences between Areas I and III, and as expected, disturbances decreased as the distance from the quarrying company increased. Area III residents provided the most favourable response to quarrying activities, and the noise was the main complaint in the three areas. The number of residents who complained about noise was 91, 77, and 63% for Areas I, II, and III, respectively. The employed method can be used satisfactorily for neighbourhood impact evaluations, considering personal experiences, human perception, and seasonal effects.

Optimization of a rainfall dependent model for the seasonal Aedes aegypti integrated control: A case of Lavras/Brazil

According to the World Health Organization, more than 80% of the world’s population lives in areas at risk of vector-borne diseases transmission. The Aedes aegypti mosquito is through its bite the responsible vector for transmitting many diseases, such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya fever, with 50–100 million estimated cases of dengue fever yearly worldwide. The vector control is the recommended action to mitigate the transmission, but public health organizations face limitations on budget, mainly in emerging countries. In that sense, the efficiency in vector control with fewer costs becomes reasonably desirable. The present work aims to develop an optimization procedure on a new rainfall dependent nonlinear dynamic population model, which is adjusted by the data obtained from females captured in traps. Thus, we can find solutions that contribute to reduce the vector infestation and minimize both the social and economic costs involved. The problem is approached over two different strategies: simultaneous step size control (SSC) and simultaneous descending control (SDC). Control strategies may vary according to the type of control, the time, and the application period throughout the year. Numerical simulations consider the case for the city of Lavras, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, during the spring and summer. The Real-Biased Genetic Algorithm was used in a mono-objective optimization problem to find optimal intervention solutions. The findings indicate policy solutions with a low total cost and a high efficiency, reflecting the decline in vector populations according to the weather.

O desenvolvimento do curso de (licenciatura) educação física da UFLA:

O artigo procurou analisar o desenvolvimento histórico do curso de Licenciatura em Educação Física da UFLA. Utilizou-se como método de análise a História Oral temática. Observando os dados cotejados, inferiu-se que o curso em questão apresentou um conjunto de catalisadores para o seu desenvolvimento, destacando-se num primeiro momento às atividades de ensino, a pesquisa e a extensão, como fundamentais para seu desenvolvimento, apesar do número reduzido de docentes que nele atuava. Pode-se constatar também, que o mesmo em seu decurso estabeleceu uma relação orgânica junto à cidade de Lavras, sendo o esporte o agente dinamizador dessa relação, em que pese os riscos de incorrer no “reducionismo epistemológico”, ao concebê-lo enquanto finalidade formativa para a área.

As Relações Históricas entre a Educação e o Esporte em Lavras, Minas Gerais (1893-1915)

O artigo analisou as relações entre Esporte e a Educação na cidade de Lavras, região sul de Minas Gerais, entre os anos de 1893 e 1915, a partir da ação social de três instituições, duas escolares, o Instituto Evangélico de Lavras e o Grupo Escolar, e uma esportiva, o Lavras Sport Club. Foram examinadas fontes primárias relativas a essas três instituições e jornais do período. Concluímos que foram as instituições educacionais as viabilizadoras do desenvolvimento do Lavras Sport Club e, por conseguinte, do próprio esporte em Lavras.

Activity patterns of mammals at Quedas do Rio Bonito Ecological Park, Lavras City, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

The activity patterns present a temporal partition of species cohabiting the same area in orderto avoid competition. Moreover, it optimizes capture efforts and provides information on the naturalhistory of species. Nevertheless, anthropic impacts compromise this activity by changing the patterns.Since there is a lack of studies in the last decades, this work demonstrates and discusses the pattern ofactivity of medium and large mammals in an ecological park in the south of the state of Minas Gerais,Brazil. Photographic trapping registered two species classified as cathemeral, four as nocturnal andtwo as diurnal. The predominant habit was nocturnal, which is the result of adaptive behaviors relatedto predation and human actions. The results of this study show the biological importance of the regionand the need for new systematized studies focusing on the medium and large local mammal fauna,aiming to contribute to a more comprehensive knowledge of the local biodiversity.Keywords: Activity pattern. Behavior. Functional activity.

Occurrence of species of Mandevilla Lindl. (Apocynaceae Juss.: Apocynoideae) in Lavras (MG), Brazil: ecological and taxonomical implications

Mandevilla Lindl. (Apocynaceae) presents approximately 150 species, which guarantees the largest specific contingent in Apocynoideae, and these taxa occur in regions that extend from Mexico to Argentina, in the most varied habitats. Due to its vast occurrence in the region and the high ornamental value of numerous species, the present work aimed to catalog the native species of Mandevilla occurring in the city of Lavras. A description of the species found was also performed, a comparison was made with the occurrence reported in other surveys. The data were obtained by consulting the collection of herbaria that presented collections for the municipality. Six species were identified: Mandevilla illustris (Vell.) Woodson, M. hirsuta (Rich.) K.Schum., M. longiflora (Desf.) Pichon, M. pohliana (Stadelm.) A.H.Gentry, M. tenuifolia (J.C.Mikan) Woodson, M. velame (A.St.-Hil.) Pichon. The occurrence of species of Mandevilla was considered to be high when compared to the other surveys consulted, and this fact was favored by the pedological and vegetative conformation of the area, which are highly favorable for the establishment and development of the representatives of this genus.

Molecular detection of Leishmania spp in Lutzomyia longipalpis in the city of Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease that affects a large part of the world population. Knowing the sand fly fauna of a region is of fundamental importance for guiding health surveillance actions related to the prevention and control of leishmaniasis. A total of 86 specimens of sand flies (60 females and 26 males) were collected. Using the classification proposed by Galati (2003), the following species were identified: Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva, 1912), Migonemyia migonei (França, 1920), Evandromyia cortelezzi (Brethes, 1923), Ev. sallesi (Galvão & Coutinho, 1939), Nyssomyia whitmani (Atunes & Coutinho, 1939), Psathyromyia lutziana (Costa Lima, 1932), Ev. lenti (Mangabeira, 1938), Brumptomyia sp. (França and Parrot, 1921), and Pressatia sp. (Mangabeira, 1942). Using PCR with internal transcribed spacer target to identify infected sand flies, five Lu. longipalpis females were infected with Leishmania spp. Despite the small number of specimens collected, considerable species diversity was found in the study area.

Dynamic of Phosphorus Fractions in Typic Quartzipsamment Soil Cropped With Bean

Phosphorus is the most limited nutrient in Brazilian soils for plant growth, resulted of low availability and poor P content in bedrock. The aim of the study was to evaluate the dynamic of P fractions in a sand soil typical Quartzipsamment cropped with common bean under the effects of P and Si-fertilizer rates. The research was carried out in a soil with sand texture and clay mineralogy constituted mainly by kaolinite, classified as Neossolo Quartzarenico Ortico típico (RQo). The greenhouse location was the campus of Universidade Federal de Lavras located in the city of Lavras, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil (approximately 21o13'46.54" S and 44o58'26.30" W, average altitude 932 m above sea level). The experimental design used was entirely random, arranged in a 4 × 3 factorial design, with four repetitions, with amount of 48 experimental units. The treatments included four P rates (0, 80, 240 and 410 mg dm-3) and four Si rates (0, 240 and 410 mg dm-3). Phosphorus fractions in soil are little affected by Si-fertilizer rates. P uptakes by bean plants are correlated to the labile and moderately labile fractions. P-fertilizer rates increment majority the stable P fraction in soil and in lower proportion the labile and moderately labile P fractions in soil. Po-NaHCO3 is the only that contributes to bean plant nutrition.

Multitrophic web of insects associated with Piptadenia gonoacantha (Mart.) Macbr. (Fabaceae) and their relationship with resource traits

We describe for the first time the food web of insects associated with fruits and seed of Piptadenia gonoacantha (Fabaceae), and analyze their relationships with resource traits, such as biomass and fruit area. A total of 440 fruits of P. Gonoacantha were sampled in the city of Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil. We found twenty-one species of insects distributed in three trophic levels. The most widely sampled species was Acanthoscelides clitellarius (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Bruchinae), the main consumer species of seeds. It was also verified the presence of Lepidoptera larvae consuming both seeds and the internal fruit tissue. Other species of herbivorous insects were found in low numbers. The food web was subdivided into one sub-web of 10 parasitoid species and one hyperparasitoid species associated to A. clitellarius and another one sub-web of four parasitoid species associated with Lepidoptera. For the parasitism rates, we obtained the following: 19.11% for the total food web, 17.93% for the A. clitellarius parasitism, and 36% for the Lepidoptera parasitism. The resource traits had influence on the oviposition behavior of A. clitellarius, where fruits with larger area showed more eggs of this species. Fruits with higher biomass showed greater abundance and richness of insects as well as more interactions. Seeds with higher biomass were more often used by herbivorous insects. The larval forms of Lepidoptera caused the greatest damage in seed biomass among herbivores. Seeds with parasitoids did not show a significant difference in biomass when compared to predated seeds.

THE CHILDREN’S LANGUAGE AS VERBAL INTERACTION AND INTERLOCUTION PROCESS

Starting from the premise that all fields of human activity are connected by language, that the use of language takes place in the form of statements in a process of discursive interlocution, this work analyzed the language and its process of constitution, not only as an act of communication between an sender and a receiver, but as an action marked by a dialogic structure. Thus, the objective of this study was to understand the constitution of the child's language as a process of verbal and intrapsychic interaction, through observations of situations of dialogues between adults and children from a socio-historical perspective. In order to proceed to this issue, we adopted a qualitative research approach, based on the collection of data in the field work with twelve children aged between 3 and 4 years and two female teachers of the Pre-school class of a private, Early Childhood Education School in the city of Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The research was based on Bakhtin's Theory of Enunciation and Vygotsky's Historical-Cultural Approach to understand the process of child language development. The study points out children as conscious and active subjectz of their culture, established especially on concrete social relations with the more experienced Other.

Evolution of the fruit market in the city of Lavras-Minas Gerais-Brazil

Fruit growing has achieved advances through the use of new technologies generated by research. In Brazil, it is one of the most prominent sectors in agribusiness, achieving significant results and generating business opportunities. In this way, the fruit market has grown considerably in the last decades, both in quantity and in quality. Allied to this, the changes in consumer behavior regarding food consumption has been responsible for the increase of the fruit market. The objective of this work was to know the evolution of the fruit trade in the city of Lavras, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, in relation to the quantity sold, monetary value, losses in the gondolas of retail establishments and per capita consumption of the population of this city.