Eucalyptus urophylla is widely used in forestry plantations in Mexico. However, its utilization could be optimized if the anatomical characteristics of its wood were better understood. The objective of this research was to evaluate the suitability of its wood for the manufacture of medium-density fiberboard (MDF), sawmilling industry, making pulp for paper, and producing charcoal. Seventy-eight trees of 26 clonal lines were analyzed, measuring diameter at breast height, total height, basic wood density, and fiber morphology (length, diameter, lumen width, and cell wall thickness) in the pith and sapwood at four tree heights. From these variables, indices were calculated to evaluate wood quality. Basic wood density ranged from 435 to 511 kg m⁻3 among clonal lines, with higher values in sapwood (440–542 kg m⁻3) than in pith. Fibers were short, with lengths of 955–1190 µm, diameters of 17.0–20.7 µm, lumen widths of 8.6 to 11.6 µm, and cell wall thicknesses of 3.9–5.0 µm. Wood quality indices showed flexibility coefficients of 51–57
Forest genetic improvement is employed to increase the productivity of commercial forest plantations and involves four main stages: selection of superior trees, provenance/progeny trials, cloning of high-value genotypes, and the establishment of asexual seed orchards for the production of high-genetic-value germplasm. The objective of this review was to compile and synthesize literature on the genetic improvement of forest species in Latin America. The countries with the most significant advances are Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and Costa Rica. The greatest research gap was identified in Central America and the Caribbean. Most studies in the region focus on the selection of superior genotypes and their evaluation in provenance/progeny trials, highlighting the need to broaden the dissemination of findings related to vegetative propagation and asexual seed orchards. Although the extensive introduction of exotic species in Latin America has occurred since the nineteenth century, further research is still needed to improve their adaptation to areas outside their native range. Similarly, the genetic improvement of native species remains scarce compared to the progress made with introduced species.
Within the South-Western food industry of Nigeria, the overall impact, associated challenges, and implementation of Big Data Analytics (BDA) have remained underexplored. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the extent of BDA adoption, identify key barriers and enablers, assess the operational impacts of BDA adoption, and propose a structured framework to guide effective integration. The study adopted a deductive, mono-quantitative method. Data were collected from 151 participants through a stratified sampling technique using an online survey questionnaire and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods, including Chi-Square, Likelihood Ratio, and Fisher-Freeman-Halton Exact tests, using SPSS version 26 and Excel as analytical tools. While awareness and appreciation of BDA’s strategic benefits are growing, significant challenges such as high implementation costs, a shortage of skilled personnel, regulatory uncertainties, and technological limitations persist. Nevertheless, organisations that have embraced BDA report notable improvements in operational efficiency, strategic decision-making, customer satisfaction, and competitive advantage. This study proposes a practical BDA adoption framework designed to address the identified barriers and enhance successful implementation and offers several recommendations. The research helps bridge the knowledge gap on BDA adoption in emerging economies and offers actionable insights for business leaders, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to drive innovation and sustainability in Nigeria’s food industry.
For a sample of size two from a continuous density f(x) with support on the positive half-line (0,∞ ) , the distributions of the sum of the two variables is usually of a different character from the distribution of the maximum of the two variables. It can be verified that, surprisingly, in the case in which the variables are half-normal, the distributions of the sum and of the maximum are of the same type. After discussing two alternative elementary proofs of this half-normal property, we show that, under mild regularity conditions, it only occurs if the two i.i.d. variables have a common half-normal distribution. The analogous case in which samples of size greater than 2 are involved is also discussed.
Background: Rural teacher training schools (ENR) emerged in 1922, with their own curricula that, at the time, required the training of teachers with the knowledge to increase literacy among the population and contribute to rural community development by including agricultural training in their curriculum, however, in 1940, the process of harmonizing their curriculum with that of urban teacher training colleges began. Objective: To contribute to the understanding of how ENR students leverage production modules to generate community engagement with rural development. Methodology: Because there is no prior experience on the topic, this research was of a mixed nature: exploratory in its quantitative aspect and ethnographic in its qualitative aspect. It was conducted at the ENR in Mactumactzá, Chiapas, and Tiripetio, Michoacán. Questionnaires were administered to students to determine their opinions regarding their training in the production modules and how they relate to them in their communities. In both institutions a sample of students (n) of 228 for Tiripetio and 233 for Mactumactzá was obtained, the degree of confidence of the sample was 0.95 (NC = 0.95), and a sampling error of 0.05 (e = 0.05). Results: 91% of the students in the ENR, take advantage of their knowledge of the production modules to connect with the communities, with projects for livestock raising, planting vegetables and fruit trees. Implications: The students of the two ENR propose the creation of production modules in their communities to contribute to rural development, through the production of products for self-consumption and some techniques for food preservation. Conclusion: The ENRs are teacher training institutions that can promote community spaces, the production modules are projects that contribute to the rural development of communities.
