Distance learning for farmers: Experience during the pandemic

Andrea Gardeazabal (2023, [Documento de trabajo])

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic's disruption of farmer training—a crucial component for enhancing the resilience and livelihoods of smallholder farmers—CIMMYT innovated educational solutions to sustain capacity building in agri-food systems. Addressing the challenges of limited mobile device access, poor internet connectivity, and digital illiteracy, CIMMYT implemented two pilot projects in Mexico. These projects facilitated distance learning for adult farmers in rural areas, employing both internet-based and non-internet methods. The non-internet approach utilized traditional media like print, while the internet-based approach leveraged WhatsApp for educational content delivery. Building on these experiences, CIMMYT expanded its offerings by creating micro -courses delivered through WhatsApp, hosted on the Co-LAB's new Learning Network platform, specifically targeting farmers. This paper delves into the various strategies, methods, and techniques adopted, documenting the learning outcomes, results, and key conclusions drawn from these innovative training initiatives.

Distance Learning Digital Inclusion Innovative Training CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA DISTANCE EDUCATION CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT METHODS COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

Statistical machine-learning methods for genomic prediction using the SKM library

Osval Antonio Montesinos-Lopez Brandon Alejandro Mosqueda González Jose Crossa (2023, [Artículo])

Sparse Kernel Methods R package Statistical Machine Learning Genomic Selection CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA MARKER-ASSISTED SELECTION MACHINE LEARNING GENOMICS METHODS

A novel method for genomic-enabled prediction of cultivars in new environments

Osval Antonio Montesinos-Lopez Brandon Alejandro Mosqueda González Jose Crossa (2023, [Artículo])

Genomic Best Linear Unbiased Prediction Gains in Accuracy Genomic Prediction Novel Methods CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA GENOTYPE ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION METHODS ENVIRONMENT

Percepción y significación de la gráfica urbana, en un acercamiento a la transdisciplinariedad

MARIA TERESA OLALDE RAMOS (2023, [Capítulo de libro])

Capítulo número 1 de la Sección El juego de los signos.

Se puede decir que los gráficos urbanos al ser analizados desde los distintos enfoques en que son interpretados, pueden ser entendidos como un fenómeno complejo, vistos desde su representación formal como signos, o también de acuerdo a su funcionalidad práctica como pueden ser las señales de tránsito, o bien los anuncios publicitarios y su impacto comercial que, como parte del contexto en que se ubican, pueden cambiar su sentido práctico y tomar nuevos roles de acuerdo a su significado. Estos mismos mensajes visuales pueden llegar a ser interpretados y significados como símbolos representativos de un sitio o como decoraciones escenográficas del mismo. Lo importante es entender es que todos y cada uno de los elementos visuales que encontramos en el contexto urbano comunican, ya que intrínsecamente llevan un mensaje en su propia representación visual, que a su vez son interpretados desde distintos enfoques por el sujeto con el que interactúan. El estudio transdisciplinario enriquecerá el conocimiento de la ciudad, lo cual puede ser un gran apoyo en la creación de distintas intervenciones en cuanto a la organización de espacios, desarrollo de edificaciones, de elementos mobiliarios, de transporte, así como de procesos de comunicación, las cuales se verán enriquecidas con los distintos enfoques disciplinarios que podemos encontrar en las diversas interpretaciones de los múltiples sujetos que la viven y la utilizan como parte de su cotidianeidad.

Signs and signboards. Commercial art. Graphic arts. Visual communication. Arte comercial. Artes gráficas. Letreros. Comunicación visual. HF5843 HUMANIDADES Y CIENCIAS DE LA CONDUCTA CIENCIAS DE LAS ARTES Y LAS LETRAS TEORÍA, ANÁLISIS Y CRÍTICA DE LAS BELLAS ARTES

Balancing quality with quantity: a case study of UK bread wheat

Nick Fradgley Keith Gardner Stéphanie M. Swarbreck Alison Bentley (2023, [Artículo])

Grain Protein Content Environmental Sustainability End-Use Quality Modern Bread Baking Methods CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA GRAIN PROTEIN CONTENT HISTORY QUALITY WHEAT YIELDS

Multimodal deep learning methods enhance genomic prediction of wheat breeding

Carolina Rivera-Amado Francisco Pinto Francisco Javier Pinera-Chavez David González-Diéguez Matthew Paul Reynolds Paulino Pérez-Rodríguez Huihui Li Osval Antonio Montesinos-Lopez Jose Crossa (2023, [Artículo])

Conventional Methods Genomic Prediction Accuracy Deep Learning Novel Methods CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA WHEAT BREEDING MACHINE LEARNING METHODS MARKER-ASSISTED SELECTION

Universal fixation system for pad printing of plastic parts

JOSE ALEJANDRO FERNANDEZ RAMIREZ (2023, [Artículo])

Pad printing is used in automotive, medical, electrical and other industries, employing diverse materials to transfer a 2D image onto a 3D object with different sizes and geometries. This work presents a universal fixation system for pad printing of plastic parts (UFSP4) in response to the needs of small companies that cannot afford to invest in the latest technological advances. The UFSP4 comprises two main subsystems: a mechanical support system (i.e., support structure, jig matrix and braking system) and a control system (i.e., an electronic system and an electric-hydraulic system). A relevant feature is the combination of a jig matrix and jig pins to fixate complex workpieces with different sizes. Using finite element analysis (FEA), in the mesh convergence, the total displacement converges to 0.00028781 m after 12,000 elements. The maximum equivalent stress value is 1.22 MPa for the polycarbonate plate in compliance with the safety factor. In a functionality test of the prototype performed in a production environment for one hour, the jigs fixed by the plate did not loosen, maintaining the satisfactory operation of the device. This is consistent with the displacement distribution of the creep analysis and shows the absence of the creep phenomenon. Based on FEA that underpinned the structural health computation of the braking system, the prototype was designed and built, seeking to ensure a reliable and safe device to fixate plastic parts, showing portability, low-cost maintenance and adaptability to the requirements of pad printing of automotive plastic parts.

Use of AI tools declaration: The authors declare they have not used Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in the creation of this article.

Acknowledgments: To the company Plásticos Decorados and Centro de Tecnología Avanzada (CIATEQ A.C.) for the facilities and support to carry out this work. To the Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (CONAHCYT) for a Ph.D. scholarship support number 500839 and CONAHCYT SNI.

Conflict of interest: The authors declare there are no conflicts of interest.

Modular fixtures Jig matrix Prototype design Pad printing Fixture methods INGENIERÍA Y TECNOLOGÍA CIENCIAS TECNOLÓGICAS OTRAS ESPECIALIDADES TECNOLÓGICAS OTRAS OTRAS

On-farm storage loss estimates of maize in Kenya using community survey methods

Hugo De Groote Anani Bruce (2023, [Artículo])

Maize is the most important staple in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with highly seasonal production. High storage losses affect food security, but good estimations are lacking. A new method using focus group discussions (FGDs) was tested with 121 communities (1439 farmers, 52% women) in Kenya's six maize-growing zones, to estimate the maize losses to storage pests and analyze farmer practices. As control strategies, half of the farmers used chemical pesticides (49%), while hermetic bags (16%) and botanicals (15%) were also popular. Relative loss from weevils in the long rains was estimated at 23%, in the short rains 18%, and annually 21%. Fewer farmers were affected by the larger grain borer (LGB) than by maize weevils: 42% in the long rainy season and 32% in the short rainy season; losses from LGB were also smaller: 19% in the long season, 17% in the short season, and 18% over the year. Total storage loss, from both species combined, was estimated at 36%, or 671,000 tonnes per year. The greatest losses occur in the humid areas, especially the moist mid-altitudes (56%), and with smaller loss in the drylands (20–23%). Extrapolating the point data and overlaying with the maize production map shows the geographic distribution of the losses, with the most important area found around Lake Victoria. FGDs provide convenient and cheap tools to estimate storage losses in representative communities, but a total loss estimate of 36% is higher than is found in other studies, so its accuracy and framing effects need to be assessed. We conclude that storage pests remain a major problem, especially in western Kenya, and that the use of environmentally friendly technologies such as hermetic storage and botanicals needs more attention, both by the public extension service and private agrodealers.

Larger Grain Borer Maize Weevil CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA MAIZE STORAGE LOSSES PESTS SURVEY METHODS

Infant population’s death causes in Ciudad Juarez, 1953-1954

Guadalupe Santiago Quijada (2022, [Artículo, Artículo])

This article presents a study about the causes of death of the child population in Ciudad Juarez, at the beginning of the second half of the 20th century. In this document, emphasis has been placed on investigating the government response, on the activities carried out by local health institutions to deal with the diseases and prevent the number of infant deaths from continuing to increase; and in a particular way, in the actions of society to reduce suffering and protect children. Regarding the sources of information that were used, the data registered in the death books of 1953 and 1954 that are in the Civil Registry of Ciudad Juarez were explored and quantified. Also, the newspaper El Fronterizo and various bibliography were reviewed to establish the urban historical context in which this tragedy occurred.

Ciudad Juárez, salud, enfermedades, mortalidad infantil HUMANIDADES Y CIENCIAS DE LA CONDUCTA HUMANIDADES Y CIENCIAS DE LA CONDUCTA Ciudad Juarez demographic history diseases infant mortality

The potential of UAV and very high-resolution satellite imagery for yellow and stem rust detection and phenotyping in Ethiopia

Gerald Blasch David Hodson Francelino Rodrigues (2023, [Artículo])

Very high (spatial and temporal) resolution satellite (VHRS) and high-resolution unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery provides the opportunity to develop new crop disease detection methods at early growth stages with utility for early warning systems. The capability of multispectral UAV, SkySat and Pleiades imagery as a high throughput phenotyping (HTP) and rapid disease detection tool for wheat rusts is assessed. In a randomized trial with and without fungicide control, six bread wheat varieties with differing rust resistance were monitored using UAV and VHRS. In total, 18 spectral features served as predictors for stem and yellow rust disease progression and associated yield loss. Several spectral features demonstrated strong predictive power for the detection of combined wheat rust diseases and the estimation of varieties’ response to disease stress and grain yield. Visible spectral (VIS) bands (Green, Red) were more useful at booting, shifting to VIS–NIR (near-infrared) vegetation indices (e.g., NDVI, RVI) at heading. The top-performing spectral features for disease progression and grain yield were the Red band and UAV-derived RVI and NDVI. Our findings provide valuable insight into the upscaling capability of multispectral sensors for disease detection, demonstrating the possibility of upscaling disease detection from plot to regional scales at early growth stages.

Very High Resolution Imagery Disease Detection Methods Early Growth Stages CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES STEM RUST PHENOTYPING HIGH-THROUGHPUT PHENOTYPING WHEAT