Smallholder maize yield estimation using satellite data and machine learning in Ethiopia

Zhe Guo Jordan Chamberlin Liangzhi You (2023, [Artículo])

The lack of timely, high-resolution data on agricultural production is a major challenge in developing countries where such information can guide the allocation of scarce resources for food security, agricultural investment, and other objectives. While much research has suggested that remote sensing can potentially help address these gaps, few studies have indicated the immediate potential for large-scale estimations over both time and space. In this study we described a machine learning approach to estimate smallholder maize yield in Ethiopia, using well-measured and broadly distributed ground truth data and freely available spatiotemporal covariates from remote sensing. A neural networks model outperformed other algorithms in our study. Importantly, our work indicates that a model developed and calibrated on a previous year's data could be used to reasonably estimate maize yield in the subsequent year. Our study suggests the feasibility of developing national programs for the routine generation of broad-scale and high-resolution estimates of smallholder maize yield, including seasonal forecasts, on the basis of machine learning algorithms, well-measured ground control data, and currently existing time series satellite data.

Sentinel-2 Smallholder Agriculture Yield Prediction CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA INTENSIFICATION SMALLHOLDERS AGRICULTURE YIELD FORECASTING

In-service weld repair by direct deposition: numerical simulation and experimental validation

LUIS DANTE MELENDEZ MORALES Jose Jorge Ruiz Mondragon MARICRUZ HERNANDEZ HERNANDEZ (2023, [Artículo])

In-Service Welding is a technological process for which interconnection and repair of pipelines can be made while they are in operation, before making it two main risks need to be assessed: hydrogen cracking and burn-through. Current simulations and validations assess these risks independently, but due to its interdependence these risks need to be assessed in conjunction. A repair method not normally used, but with high potential due to its simplicity and versatility is the direct deposition of weld. In the present research, a fluid-thermo-mechanical coupled simulation and validation were done of an in-service welding repair by direct deposition on a flowing pressurized pipe having an internal defect. The results demonstrated the effectiveness of using this repair method to restore the mechanical strength of pipelines. Surface, sub-surface, and volumetric non-destructive examinations evidenced no cracking immediately to finish the repair and delayed. Temperature tendency curves showed good approximations having a maximum difference of 5.09 % between numerical and experimental. Perimeter deformation along the pipe length between numerical and experimental results displayed a similar behaviour with a significant difference in the numerical values attributed to the lack of input data for weld properties. The structural analysis performed in this study used the approach of the risk of burn-through under internal pressure determined by the occurrence of localized radial bulging. Numerical results indicated no relevant plastic strain occurs. Is strongly recommended that thermal analysis assessments using the actual defect morphology would be performed, not only considering the remaining thickness of the pipe.

Declaration of Competing Interest: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Acknowledgements: The authors gratefully acknowledge to Petropipe de Mexico for technical support, materials and equipment needed for the experimental validation. The first author wants also to acknowledge to CONAHCYT (Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías), for the post-graduate scholarship received.

In-service welding Burn-through Hydrogen cracking Weld repair INGENIERÍA Y TECNOLOGÍA CIENCIAS TECNOLÓGICAS OTRAS ESPECIALIDADES TECNOLÓGICAS OTRAS OTRAS

Planos y croquis de la desamortización en Michoacán

Martín Sánchez Rodriguez (2023, [Capítulo de libro])

Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (México). Unidad Azcapotzalco. División de Ciencias y Artes para el Diseño. Departamento de Evaluación del Diseño en el Tiempo. Área de Estudios Urbanos.

La presente contribución busca poner en relieve la importancia de analizar los planos y croquis que las comisiones repartidoras hicieron o mandaron elaborar para definir en los potreros cada uno de los terrenos repartidos a cada indígena. A pesar de que no es mucha la cartografía que ha sobrevivido para Michoacán (hablamos de menos de tres decenas de casos), la complejidad de su análisis limita los propósitos de este artículo. Por lo tanto, sólo estudiaré los ejemplos de San Pedro Caro, Huetamo (en este caso se trata de la villa de Huetamo y el pueblo de San Lucas) y Ecuandureo, tratando de encontrar algunos elementos que nos revelen los cambios en el paisaje agrario michoacano. También se busca insistir en la importancia de la familia como factor para el reparto de la tierra. De acuerdo con las legislaciones sobre la desamortización, la ley de 1827 definió que el reparto debería de realizarse por familia. Sin embargo, en las leyes de 1851 y 1902, se estableció que el reparto debería de ser individual y en forma equitativa. El análisis de los planos de San Pedro Caro y Huetamo nos revelará la importancia del vínculo familiar para controlar una extensión más grande de terreno, aun y cuando estos tamaños fueran mínimos.

Cartography--Mexico--Michoacán de Ocampo--History. Michoacán de Ocampo (Mexico)--Maps--History. Land tenure--Mexico--Michoacán de Ocampo--History. Cartografía -- Historia. Tenencia de la tierra. GA485.M53 CIENCIAS FÍSICO MATEMÁTICAS Y CIENCIAS DE LA TIERRA CIENCIAS DE LA TIERRA Y DEL ESPACIO GEOGRAFÍA CARTOGRAFÍA GEOGRÁFICA

Voter´´´'s dilemma between honest and competent candidates in the 2018 elections in Mexico and Brazil

José Daniel Sousa Oliva (2023, [Artículo, Artículo])

This article is dedicated to understanding and explaining the electoral dilemma “Dishonest, but competent” and “Honest, but incompetent” in the elections of legislators, governors and municipal presidents in 2018 in Mexico and Brazil. The research questions that guided the investigation are: Why are there voters in Mexico and Brazil who vote for “dishonest” candidates? And how do the voters of those countries decide their vote in the face of this dilemma? The theoretical approach of this work is Social Psychology through two analytical tools: the Funnel of Causality and the Tripartite Model of Attitudes. The methodology is mixed, quantitative and qualitative, using statistical models with data from the international surveys World Values Survey and Comparative Studies of Electoral Systems, as well as the application of Focus Groups in the distance modality. In this way, four categories of voter are proposed: moralist, moralist-moderate, pragmatic-moderate and pragmatic. The arguments of this work are: first, that regardless of cultural differences, there is an “affective voter” “non-rational” who makes decisions based on emotions and intuition, demonstrating that the affective components of attitudes are more relevant than the cognitive ones in electoral choice; second, that voting for “dishonest” candidates is determined under a greater influence of “short-term factors” such as candidate characteristics and short-term events rather than “long-term factors” such as party loyalties and ideology.

politics, electoral behavior, political culture, democracy, public opinion. política, comportamiento electoral, cultura política, democracia, opinión pública. CIENCIAS SOCIALES CIENCIAS SOCIALES

Las nuevas redes de centros de desarrollo tecnológico aplicado. Una aproximación al caso británico

Germán Herrera Bartis Patricia Gutti (2023, [Artículo, Artículo])

Este trabajo lleva a cabo un análisis de la experiencia de Catapult, un programa guberna­mental del Reino Unido surgido una década atrás consistente en la creación y sosteni­miento de una red de nuevos centros de desarrollo tecnológico aplicado destinados a atender las demandas y requerimientos de los actores productivos privados de dicho país. A través del análisis de numerosos documentos oficiales, auditorías del programa y entre­vistas a actores clave el artículo analiza las características centrales de la política en cues­tión, incluyendo los elementos que definen la gobernanza del sistema, el esquema de fi­nanciamiento vigente, el alcance de las actividades tecnológicas de los centros y su vínculo con las empresas privadas.

Tecnología Innovación Desarrollo tecnológico Política industrial Reino Unido CIENCIAS SOCIALES CIENCIAS SOCIALES

Research for development approaches in mixed crop-livestock systems of the Ethiopian highlands

Million Gebreyes James Hammond Lulseged Tamene Getachew Agegnehu Rabe Yahaya Anthony Whitbread (2023, [Artículo])

This study presents processes and success stories that emerged from Africa RISING's Research for Development project in the Ethiopian Highlands. The project has tested a combination of participatory tools at multiple levels, with systems thinking and concern for sustainable and diversified livelihoods. Bottom-up approaches guided the selection of technological interventions that could address the priority farming system challenges of the communities, leading to higher uptake levels and increased impact. Joint learning, appropriate technology selection, and the creation of an enabling environment such as the formation of farmer research groups, the establishment of innovation platforms, and capacity development for institutional and technical innovations were key to this study. The study concludes by identifying key lessons that focus more on matching innovations to community needs and geographies, systems orientation/integration of innovations, stepwise approaches to enhance the adoption of innovations, documenting farmers' capacity to modify innovations, building successful partnerships, and facilitating wider scaling of innovations for future implementation of agricultural research for development projects.

Action Research Systems Thinking CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA INNOVATION PARTNERSHIPS SCALING UP INTEGRATED CROP-LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS

Evaluación del aporte hidrológico superficial en el sistema de bloque de montaña de la subcuenca Ojos Negros

Surface hydrological contribution evaluation in the mountain block system of the Ojos Negros subbasin

Ricardo Adolfo Hidalgo Rodríguez (2023, [Tesis de maestría])

Este trabajo se realizó en la sección de la subcuenca Ojos Negros, sobre el bloque de montaña de la Sierra de Juárez (denominado Sistema de Bloque de Montaña de la Subcuenca Ojos Negros, SBMON), en el estado de Baja California, México. Se llevó a cabo un modelado hidrológico del escurrimiento en el periodo 1981-2020 para cuantificar el aporte hidrológico de salida hacia el Valle de Ojos Negros. En cumplimiento del objetivo, se diseñó una base de datos meteorológicos compuesta por los registros diarios de las estaciones meteorológicas en la región y del modelo de forzamiento de superficie NLDAS2. Se recopiló un conjunto de información edafológica, forestal, geológica, satelital y topográfica dentro del área de estudio. Con la información recolectada, se elaboraron dos modelos de escurrimiento empleando el método de las curvas numeradas (CN) del Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (USDA). Los modelos fueron ajustados con los valores de sustracción inicial, Ia, de 0.2 (modelo A) y 0.05 (modelo B). Las series generadas se compararon con los resultados del modelo GCN250, basado en los datos edafológicos y forestales de la Agencia Espacial Europea (ESA). A nivel regional, se observó un aporte de escurrimiento anual de 9.2 Mm3 (GCN250), 10.9 Mm3 (modelo A) y 4.7 Mm3 (modelo B). La sección oriental del SBMON mostró el mayor potencial de infiltración, pero también fue la zona con mayor producción de escurrimiento en todos los modelos. Desde la perspectiva estacional, se identificaron periodos donde los escurrimientos formados a partir de las lluvias en verano superaron a los generados en la temporada invernal. Con base a los resultados obtenidos, el aporte de escurrimiento dentro del SBMON es significativa, no obstante, los procesos de escurrimiento subsuperficial y subterráneo pueden tener un papel todavía más importante en la recarga hacia el Valle de Ojos Negros. Se recomienda dar seguimiento a la variación del contenido de humedad en los suelos del SBMON, a los patrones anuales y estacionales de precipitación, así como la contribución hídrica del derretimiento de la nieve en la Sierra de Juárez.

This work was realized in the section of the Ojos Negros sub-basin, on the Sierra de Juárez mountain block (denominated Mountain Block System of the Ojos Negros Sub-Basin, SBMON), in the state of Baja California, Mexico. A hydrological runoff modeling was carried out for the period 1981-2020 to quantify the output hydrological contribution toward the Ojos Negros Valley. In compliance with the objective, a meteorological database consisting of the daily records of the meteorological stations and the NLDAS-2 surface forcing model was designed. A set of edaphological, forestry, geological, satellite, and topographical information was collected within the study area. Based on the collected information, two runoff models were developed using the Curve Number (CN) method from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The models were adjusted with the initial subtraction values, Ia, of 0.2 (model A) and 0.05 (model B). The generated series were compared with the results of the GCN250 model, based on soil and forestry data from the European Space Agency (ESA). Regionally, an annual runoff contribution of 9.2 Mm3 (GCN250), 10.9 Mm3 (model A), and 4.7 Mm3 (model B) was observed. The eastern section of the SBMON showed the highest infiltration potential, but it was also the area with the highest runoff production in all models. From the seasonal perspective, periods were identified where the runoff formed from summer rains exceeded that generated in the winter season. Based on the results obtained, the runoff contribution within the SBMON is significant, however, the subsurface and underground runoff processes may have an even more key role in the recharge toward the Ojos Negros Valley. It is recommended to monitor the variation of the moisture content in the SBMON soils, the annual and seasonal patterns of precipitation, as well as the water contribution from the snow melting in the Sierra de Juárez.

Sistema de bloque de montaña de la subcuenca Ojos Negros, escurrimiento, infiltración, método de las Curvas Numeradas, GCN250 Mountain Block System of the Ojos Negros Sub-Basin, runoff, infiltration, Curve Number method, GCN250 CIENCIAS FÍSICO MATEMÁTICAS Y CIENCIAS DE LA TIERRA CIENCIAS DE LA TIERRA Y DEL ESPACIO OTRAS ESPECIALIDADES DE LA TIERRA, ESPACIO O ENTORNO OTRAS OTRAS

Reubicación de enjambres de abejas de Apis mellifera en zonas urbanas y periurbanas

JOSÉ CHAVIER DE ARAUJO FREITAS (2023, [Artículo])

Hoy día podemos encontrar poblaciones silvestres de Apis mellifera de origen africanizado en todo el país, siendo además la abeja que la mayoría de los apicultores tienen en sus apiarios. Estas abejas africanizadas tuvieron su origen en un proceso de hibridación entre abejas africanizadas y europeas que ocurrió en México, pero que tuvo su origen en Brasil. Estos enjambres en zonas urbanas son un riesgo para la salud pública, ya que su presencia puede ocasionar accidentes y víctimas fatales, por lo cual es necesario saber qué hacer cuando se está ante la presencia de ellos.

ABEJAS MELIFERAS ENJAMBRE DEFENSIVIDAD AFRICANIZACION YUCATAN MEXICO BIOLOGÍA Y QUÍMICA CIENCIAS DE LA VIDA BIOLOGÍA ANIMAL (ZOOLOGÍA) INVERTEBRADOS INVERTEBRADOS

Overview of Ukama Ustawi scaling pathways

Evan Girvetz Christian Thierfelder Iddo Dror (2022, [Objeto de congreso])

CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA RESILIENCE DIVERSIFICATION AGRICULTURE RESEARCH INTENSIFICATION SCALING UP

Can I speak to the manager? The gender dynamics of decision-making in Kenyan maize plots

Rachel Voss Zachary Gitonga Jason Donovan Mariana Garcia-Medina Pauline Muindi (2023, [Artículo])

Gender and social inclusion efforts in agricultural development are focused on making uptake of agricultural technologies more equitable. Yet research looking at how gender relations influence technology uptake often assumes that men and women within a household make farm management decisions as individuals. Relatively little is understood about the dynamics of agricultural decision-making within dual-adult households where individuals’ management choices are likely influenced by others in the household. This study used vignettes to examine decision-making related to maize plot management in 698 dual-adult households in rural Kenya. The results indicated a high degree of joint management of maize plots (55%), although some management decisions—notably those related to purchased inputs—were slightly more likely to be controlled by men, while other decisions—including those related to hiring of labor and maize end uses—were more likely to be made by women. The prevalence of joint decision-making underscores the importance of ensuring that both men’s and women’s priorities and needs are reflected in design and marketing of interventions to support maize production, including those related to seed systems, farmer capacity building, and input delivery.

Intrahousehold Jointness CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA GENDER HOUSEHOLDS MAIZE SEED SYSTEMS DECISION MAKING