Historical use of water resources. Civil works evolution in Zacatecas state

Carlos Bautista-Capetillo Georgia González-Pérez Hiram Badillo-Almaraz (2021, [Artículo, Artículo])

Availability and demand are essential aspects for the human being when planning is made to provide water to the different sectors that may have need of it; still, the demand of suitable volume of water increases day by day, while the supply decreases gradually. In this inverse relationship, anthropogenic and environmental dynamics are decisive to guarantee the needs of the population, specifically due to the climatic transformations evidenced in recent decades. Throughout history, the state of Zacatecas has suffered the ravages of extreme environmental events, mainly those related to drought. Likewise, but on a lesser extent, severe floods have occurred that have caused socioeconomic damage. In this work, the climatic variations of temperature and precipitation and their influence on the evolution of hydraulic systems for the supply of drinking water in the municipality of Nochistlán de Mejía, Zacatecas are analyzed during the period 1930-2015.

drinking water supply historical development of waterworks climate and its transformations Abasto de agua potable desarrollo histórico de obras hidráulicas clima y sus transformaciones CIENCIAS FÍSICO MATEMÁTICAS Y CIENCIAS DE LA TIERRA CIENCIAS FÍSICO MATEMÁTICAS Y CIENCIAS DE LA TIERRA

Alternative cropping and feeding options to enhance sustainability of mixed crop-livestock farms in Bangladesh

Timothy Joseph Krupnik Jeroen Groot (2024, [Artículo])

We investigated alternative cropping and feeding options for large (>10 cows), medium (5–10 cows) and small (≤4 cows) mixed crop – livestock farm types, to enhance economic and environmental performance in Jhenaidha and Meherpur districts – locations with increasing dairy production – in south western Bangladesh. Following focus group discussions with farmers on constraints and opportunities, we collected baseline data from one representative farm from each farm size class per district (six in total) to parameterize the whole-farm model FarmDESIGN. The six modelled farms were subjected to Pareto-based multi-objective (differential evolution algorithm) optimization to generate alternative dairy farm and fodder configurations. The objectives were to maximize farm profit, soil organic matter balance, and feed self-reliance, in addition to minimizing feed costs and soil nitrogen losses as indicators of sustainability. The cropped areas of the six baseline farms ranged from 0.6 to 4.0 ha and milk production per cow was between 1,640 and 3,560 kg year−1. Feed self-reliance was low (17%–57%) and soil N losses were high (74–342 kg ha−1 year−1). Subsequent trade-off analysis showed that increasing profit and soil organic matter balance was associated with higher risks of N losses. However, we found opportunities to improve economic and environmental performance simultaneously. Feed self-reliance could be increased by intensifying cropping and substituting fallow periods with appropriate fodder crops. For the farm type with the largest opportunity space and room to manoeuvre, we identified four strategies. Three strategies could be economically and environmentally benign, showing different opportunities for farm development with locally available resources.

Ruminant Feed Pareto-Based Optimization Farm Bioeconomic Model CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA RUMINANT FEEDING BIOECONOMIC MODELS MIXED CROPPING FARMS LIVESTOCK

Plants of the Popol vuh, the sacred book of the Maya

Plantas del Popol Vuh, el libro sagrado de los Mayas

CANDELARIA ISABEL PEREZ MARTIN SIGFREDO EDMUNDO ESCALANTE REBOLLEDO SILVIA VERGARA YOISURA FRANCISCO ALFONSO LARQUE SAAVEDRA (2022, [Artículo])

A compilation of the plants mentioned in the sacred book of the Mayans Popol Vuh, recognized as the framework of their cosmogony that was written in the K’iche’ area in Guatemala around the year 1550 was made. Thirty-two different species were identified, from 21 plant families, all native to Mesoamerica. The largest number of species was in Fabaceae with four species, Moraceae and Solanaceae with three species each, in addition to Bromeliaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Malvaceae and Poaceae with two species each. The five most important and frequently named species are maize (Zea mays), jícaro (Crescentia cujete), copal (Protium copal), rubber (Castilla elastica) and cocoa (Theobroma cacao). Eleven species were identified, such as pito wood (Erythrina berteroana) and zibak (Cyperus canus), considered of cosmogonic significance and food plants that are integrated into five groups: fruit trees [zapote (Manilkara zapota), nance (Byrsonima crassifolia), jocote (Spondias mombin), anona (Annona reticulata), matasano (Casimiroa edulis)], grains and seeds [maize, beans (Phaseolus lunatus), cocoa, pataxte (Theobroma bicolor)], vegetables [squash (Cucurbita moschata), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), chilacayote (Cucurbita ficifolia)], flavourings [chili (Capsicum annuum)], and beverages [maguey (Agave americana)]. Seven species were domesticated: maize, squash, chilacayote, tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), beans, tomato and cocoa and others for medicinal purposes, fuel and instruments. The description of the creation of man asserts the close relationship of the Mayan culture with plant biodiversity; moreover, the famous milpa, a multi-species Mesoamerican agroecosystem is mentioned that was practiced by their gods © 2022. Revista Fitotecnia Mexicana.All Rights Reserved.

COSMOGONY MILPA PLANT FAMILIES POPOL VUH SACRED BOOK SPECIES BIOLOGÍA Y QUÍMICA CIENCIAS DE LA VIDA BIOLOGÍA VEGETAL (BOTÁNICA) PALEOBOTÁNICA PALEOBOTÁNICA

Apps, educación y patrimonio en México. Análisis de situación y estudio comparativo con el caso español

URSULA LUNA PEDRO JOSE CANTO HERRERA ALFREDO ZAPATA GONZALEZ ALEX IBANEZ-ETXEBERRIA (2020, [Artículo])

Este trabajo analiza desde un punto de vista educativo la oferta de apps en torno al patrimonio mexicano. Tras realizar una pequeña revisión de la situación del patrimonio en México y de la implementación de tecnologías digitales, especialmente apps, en el mismo, se hace un breve repaso al estado de la cuestión de la evaluación de apps de contenido patrimonial desde el punto de vista educativo. El estudio, de carácter descriptivo, se realiza desde la perspectiva del estudio de programas siguiendo el método OEPE adaptado al caso de las apps. Los resultados del análisis de la muestra final de 45 apps, muestran similitudes con el contexto español en cuanto a una baja cantidad de apps patrimoniales que puedan considerarse educativas, con escasa atención a la accesibilidad y sin adaptación a diferente tipología de público, prevaleciendo los contenidos y sin un diseño didáctico adecuado. Las diferencias principales se centran en los desarrolladores de apps, que en México son las empresas que crean contenidos dirigidos al turismo, frente a las administraciones públicas y museos en España que ofrecen un discurso patrimonial diverso. Sin embargo, en ambos países encontramos una necesidad de desarrollar apps de calidad que favorezcan su uso educativo.

HUMANIDADES Y CIENCIAS DE LA CONDUCTA App Educación patrimonial Patrimonio Aprendizaje México

El coeficiente de descarga y la densidad beta

MAURO IÑIGUEZ COVARRUBIAS JOSE JAVIER RAMIREZ LUNA PEDRO ANTONIO GUIDO ALDANA Arturo González Casillas (2014, [Artículo])

Se estudia el coeficiente de descarga y la distribución de intensidades de la turbulencia. Con el teorema de Torricelli y la teoría de probabilidades se formulan el caudal y el coeficiente de descarga, siguiendo una densidad beta unimodal, renormalizada, con dos parámetros de forma. Se había construido un modelo multifractal para la cascada de la energía cinética en la turbulencia, partiendo de los métodos de Pearson y de Kolmogorov. Para la intensidad de la turbulencia, con el primero se creó una distribución beta; para el segundo, una ley en potencia. Se completa el modelo multifractal, reconociendo la función de estructura como la función Kummer. Se busca la compatibilidad entre los dos modelos y la identificación de sus parámetros. Se encuentra que los dos parámetros de forma determinan la resolución del modelo de cascada. Se determina la dimensión local y el espectro de dimensiones para los estados que producen el teorema de Torricelli. Redefiniendo la función de estructura, la resolución queda determinada por el tirante para el cambio de régimen. Análogamente, pueden identificarse diversos prototipos, a los que hemos denominado: cuatro experimentales, tres canales, Kolmogorov, Kármán, Taylor, Verhulst (logística), Cauchy-Manning y Euclides (áurea). Se concluye que el coeficiente de descarga es una beta renormalizada; la distribución de intensidades de la turbulencia es una beta; el prototipo Torricelli resulta representativo para los cuatro experimentales y el de Euclides, quedando lejos de la distribución Gaussiana, que está contenida en el de Kármán; en tanto, el de Taylor produce la delta de Dirac.

Ecuaciones de descarga Autoafinidad Modelos de turbulencia Función de Kummer Multifractales CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA

Application of spheroidal agglomerates of γ-Al2O3 in the fluoride removal from aqueous medium

Aplicación de aglomerados esferoidales de γ-Al2O3 en la remoción de fluoruro de medio acuoso

RAFAEL ROMERO TOLEDO VICTOR RUIZ SANTOYO ULISES ZURITA LUNA GUSTAVO RANGEL PORRAS MERCED MARTINEZ ROSALES (2019, [Artículo])

En el presente estudio se investigó un adsorbente aglomerado esferoidal de γ-Al2O3 obtenido a partir de pseudoboehmita para la eliminación eficaz de fluoruro de un medio acuoso. Las propiedades superficiales se caracterizaron por diversas técnicas: XRD, fisisorción de N2, FE-SEM/EDS, RMN 27Al, adsorción de piridina por FT-IR, PZy tamaño de partícula. Se llevaron a cabo experimentos en lotes y se compararon con una alúmina activada comercial (AA). El proceso se llevó a cabo a pH 5, 7 y 9, a 25 y 35 ºC. Los resultados experimentales indicaron que los aglomerados esferoidales de γ-Al2O3 eliminan hasta 15 mg/g, con una capacidad de adsorción mayor que AA de 13 mg/g, a pH 5, estudiados a 25 y 35 ºC. El proceso de adsorción de F-en γ-Al2O3 y AA siguió la cinética de pseudo-primer orden y la isoterma de Langmuir. Los resultados muestran un adsorbente eficaz para la eliminación de F-.

A spheroidal agglomerate γ-Al2O3 adsorbent obtained from pseudoboehmite for effective removal of fluoride from aqueous medium was investigated in the present study. The surface properties were characterized by several techniques: XRD, physisorption of N2, FE-SEM/EDS, 27Al NMR, FT-IR Pyridine adsorption, PZ and particle size. Batch experiments were conducted and they were compared with a commercial activated alumina (AA). The process was carried out at pH 5, 7, and 9, then at 25 and 35 ºC. Batch experimental results indicated that the spheroidal agglomerates of γ-Al2O3 remove up to 15 mg/g with a higher adsorption capacity than AA of 13 mg/g, at pH 5, studied at 25 and 35 °C. The F−adsorption processes in γ-Al2O3 and AA followed the pseudo-first-order kinetics and the Langmuir isotherm. The results showed an adsorbent effective for removal of F−.

BIOLOGÍA Y QUÍMICA Fluoride γ-Al2O3 Spheroidal agglomerates Adsorbent Water Fluoruro γ-Al2O3 Aglomerados esferoidales Adsorbentes Agua

Does access to improved grain storage technology increase farmers' welfare? Experimental evidence from maize farming in Ethiopia

Hugo De Groote Bart Minten (2024, [Artículo])

Seasonal price variability for cereals is two to three times higher in Africa than on the international reference market. Seasonality is even more pronounced when access to appropriate storage and opportunities for price arbitrage are limited. As smallholder farmers typically sell their production after harvest, when prices are low, this leads to lower incomes as well as higher food insecurity during the lean season, when prices are high. One solution to reduce seasonal stress is the use of improved storage technologies. Using data from a randomised controlled trial, in a major maize-growing region of Western Ethiopia, we study the impact of hermetic bags, a technology that protects stored grain against insect pests, so that the grain can be stored longer. Despite considerable price seasonality—maize prices in the lean season are 36% higher than after harvesting—we find no evidence that hermetic bags improve welfare, except that access to these bags allowed for a marginally longer storage period of maize intended for sale by 2 weeks. But this did not translate into measurable welfare gains as we found no changes in any of our welfare outcome indicators. This ‘near-null’ effect is due to the fact that maize storage losses in our study region are relatively lower than previous studies suggested—around 10% of the quantity stored—likely because of the widespread use of an alternative to protect maize during storage, for example a cheap but highly toxic fumigant. These findings are important for policies that seek to promote improved storage technologies in these settings.

Hermetic Storage Randomised Controlled Trial CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA STORAGE PILOT FARMS SEASONALITY WELFARE MAIZE

Multicriteria assessment of alternative cropping systems at farm level. A case with maize on family farms of South East Asia

Santiago Lopez-Ridaura (2023, [Artículo])

CONTEXT: Integration of farms into markets with adoption of maize as a cash crop can significantly increase income of farms of the developing world. However, in some cases, the income generated may still be very low and maize production may also have strong negative environmental and social impacts. OBJECTIVE: Maize production in northern Laos is taken as a case to study how far can farms' performance be improved with improved crop management of maize with the following changes at field level: good timing and optimal soil preparation and sowing, allowing optimal crop establishment and low weed infestation. METHODS: We compared different farm types' performance on locally relevant criteria and indicators embodying the three pillars of sustainability (environmental, economic and social). An integrated assessment approach was combined with direct measurement of indicators in farmers' fields to assess eleven criteria of local farm sustainability. A bio-economic farm model was used for scenario assessment in which changes in crop management and the economic environment of farms were compared to present situation. The farm model was based on mathematical programming maximizing income under constraints related to i) household composition, initial cash and rice stocks and land type, and ii) seasonal balances of cash, labour and food. The crop management scenarios were built based on a diagnosis of the causes of variations in the agronomic and environmental performances of cropping systems, carried out in farmers' fields. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that moderate changes in crop management on maize would improve substantially farm performance on 4 to 6 criteria out of the 11 assessed, depending on farm types. The improved crop management of maize had a high economic attractiveness for every farm type simulated (low, medium and high resource endowed farms) even at simulated production costs more than doubling current costs of farmers' practices. However, while an improvement of the systems performance was attained in terms of agricultural productivity, income generation, work and ease of work, herbicide leaching, improved soil quality and nitrogen balance, trade-offs were identified with other indicators such as erosion control and cash outflow needed at the beginning of the cropping season. SIGNIFICANCE: Using farm modelling for multicriteria assessment of current and improved maize cropping systems for contrasted farm types helped capture main opportunities and constraints on local farm sustainability, and assess the trade-offs that new options at field level may generate at farm level.

Bio-Economic Farm Model Smallholder Farms CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA CASH CROPS INDICATORS SMALLHOLDERS CROPPING SYSTEMS MAIZE

Phenotypic assessment of genetic gain from selection for improved drought tolerance in semi-tropical maize populations

Terence Molnar Somak Dutta Thanda Dhliwayo Samuel Trachsel Michael Lee (2023, [Artículo])

Drought Tolerant Population Topcross Water Deficit CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA DROUGHT TOLERANCE WATER MAIZE CLIMATE CHANGE GENETIC GAIN

The generation challenge programme platform: Semantic standards and workbench for crop science

Richard Bruskiewich Guy Davenport Mathieu Rouard Reinhard Simon Samart Wanchana Trushar Shah Victor Jun Ulat Andrew Farmer Pankaj Jaiswal Mark Wilkinson David Marshall Alyssa Collins (2008, [Artículo])

CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA CROP IMPROVEMENT GENETIC RESOURCES PLANT BREEDING BIODIVERSITY COMPUTER APPLICATIONS DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY DATA PROCESSING