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

Genomic prediction of yield performance among single-cross maize hybrids using a partial diallel cross design

Junjie Fu XUECAI ZHANG (2023, [Artículo])

Genomic Prediction Prediction Model Genetic Effects Hybrid Performance CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA MAIZE GENETICS HYBRIDS PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT

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

Propuesta paisajística integral para la UAM, Unidad Azcapotzalco

Cynthia García Marín (2023, [Tesis de maestría])

315 páginas. Maestría en Diseño, Planificación y Conservación de Paisajes y Jardines.

En México, la educación superior comienza en 1521 cuando la universidad se crea como institución educativa, inaugurando en 1553 La Real y Pontificia Universidad de México. En 1910 se funda la Universidad Nacional de México y en 1954 fue inaugurada la Ciudad Universitaria de la UNAM, esta fecha representa un hito en la historia de los espacios físicos de las universidades mexicanas. Debido a la demanda de educación superior y al movimiento estudiantil de 1968, se concibe la idea de crear una nueva universidad en la ZONA METROPOLITANA de la Ciudad de México, la Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana con sus Unidades al norte, al oriente y al sur, posteriormente se abrieron 2 Unidades más. Cada una de estas Unidades funciona de manera independiente, teniendo sus propios órganos de decisión, lo que se refleja en la planta física de conjunto. Es al norte de la ciudad donde surge la Unidad Azcapotzalco, que con el paso de los años se ha ido conformando de acuerdo a sus necesidades inmediatas tratando de seguir el proyecto inicial, sin embargo, debido a los ajustes en sus diferentes intervenciones arquitectónicas, se ha propiciado una falta de integración entre el espacio arquitectónico y el espacio abierto impactando directamente en el paisaje y en la pérdida gradual de identidad de la Unidad. Este trabajo reúne la información que describe la conformación del paisaje en la Unidad a lo largo de casi 50 años, en donde se analizan los componentes del paisaje en sus diferentes sistemas; ecológico-conformación medioambiental, sociocultural-conformación de la estructura urbana, polisensorial-conformación a través de los sentidos y su contexto histórico-conformación a través del tiempo. Esta identificación, permite realizar el análisis detallado de los factores que intervienen directa e indirectamente en el estado actual del paisaje de la Unidad, con este diagnóstico se elabora una síntesis creativa que especifica las limitaciones y potencialidades que afectan la conformación del espacio abierto. A partir de esto se elaboró un plan maestro, que integra las principales líneas de acción, estructuradas en ejes de diseño que tienen como propósito ordenar y facilitar la programación para mejorar las condiciones actuales por medio de acciones específicas que contribuyan al mejoramiento, conservación y creación de un paisaje que se integre en su conjunto y permita a la UAM-Azcapotzalco ser revalorizada como un sitio con identidad y con valores históricos, sociales, estéticos, biológicos y paisajísticos.

In Mexico, higher education began in 1521 when the university was created as an educational institution, inaugurating in 1553 La Real y Pontificia Universidad de México. The National University of Mexico was founded in 1910 and the UNAM University City was inaugurated in 1954, this date represents a milestone in the history of the physical spaces of Mexican universities. Due to the demand for higher education and the student movement of 1968, the idea of creating a new university in the METROPOLITAN ZONE of Mexico City was conceived, the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana with its Units to the north, east and south, later 2 more Units were opened. Each one of these Units works independently, having its own decision-making bodies, which is reflected in the physical plant as a whole. It is to the north of the city where the Azcapotzalco Unit arises, which over the years has had to conform according to its immediate needs trying to follow the initial project, however, due to adjustments in its different architectural interventions, a lack of integration between the architectural space and the open space has been fostered, directly impacting the landscape and the gradual loss of identity of the Unit. This work gathers the information that describes the conformation of the landscape in the Unit over almost 50 years, where the components of the landscape in its different systems are analyzed; ecological-environmental conformation, sociocultural-conformation of the urban structure, polysensory-conformation through the senses and its historical context-conformation through time. This identification allows a detailed analysis of the factors that intervene directly and indirectly in the current state of the landscape of the Unit, with this diagnosis a creative synthesis is elaborated that specifies the limitations and potentialities that affect the conformation of the open space. Based on this, a master plan was prepared, which integrates the main lines of action, structured into design axes whose purpose is to order and facilitate programming to improve current conditions through specific actions that contribute to the improvement, conservation and creation of a landscape that is integrated as a whole and allows the UAM-Azcapotzalco to be revalued as a site with identity and with historical, social, aesthetic, biological and landscape values.

Paisaje, universidad, conformación, diagnóstico, lineamientos, identidad, integrar, revalorizar, plan maestro, propuesta. Landscape, university, conformation, diagnosis, guidelines, identity, integrate, revalue, master plan, proposal. Landscape design. Landscape assessment. Landscape changes. Landscapes--Social aspects. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana. Diseño de paisajes. Evaluación del paisaje. Cambios de paisaje. SB472.45 HUMANIDADES Y CIENCIAS DE LA CONDUCTA CIENCIAS DE LAS ARTES Y LAS LETRAS ARQUITECTURA JARDINES Y PARQUES

Sustainability assessment of vegetables farms in Benin: preliminary results

Sylvanus Odjo (2023, [Objeto de congreso])

CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT VEGETABLES STAPLE FOODS AGRIFOOD SYSTEMS FRUITS FARMERS

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

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

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