Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

Entrepreneurship competencies development has been established as a necessary practice to foster entrepreneurial behavior and improve the skills required for self-employment, although these qualities are also useful in the business world. This descriptive, comparative, pre-experimental, and longitudinal study aimed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of a program (workshop), in two modalities (in-person and online), on six entrepreneurial competencies: Business Creation, Risk Taking, Self-Efficacy, Autonomy, Creativity and Innovation, and Networking. The sample consisted of 51 adults with higher education studies (in progress or completed); 23 participants took part in the in-person intervention, and 28 participated in the online workshop, hosted on Google Classroom. Two measurements were taken in both groups: before and after treatment. The results showed a statistically significant improvement in the level of four competencies for the in-person group and five for the remote group. There were no significant differences in the type of modality used. These results are consistent with other similar research, highlighting the importance of promoting diverse entrepreneurial skills through similar interventions.

The purpose of this article is to conduct and present an analysis of the frequency of internet and social media usage habits among older Spanish adults, taking into account, in depth, the usage preferences of the subjects included in the research. It also explores the effect of the internet on the psychosocial aspects of older adults and examines the existence of a digital and gender divide. Regarding its methodological orientation, the research adopts a documentary hermeneutic approach. Numerous bibliographic sources published in the last 5 years, including WOS, Scopus, Dialnet, Scielo, and Google Scholar, were reviewed. Fifteen interviews were conducted with regular internet users aged 65 and over to understand and interpret the main problems faced by older Spanish adults online. Among the findings, it is worth highlighting that internet use provides significant support to older adults in several areas, such as health and social and family relationships. Likewise, some gender differences in internet use have been identified, with men being the most frequent users.

Colombian cooperativism has been a key tool in addressing the economic and social challenges that have marked the country's history. This review article aims to analyze its evolution, identify the main challenges it faces in the 21st century, and explore perspectives that can strengthen its impact on socioeconomic development. In particular, it addresses how cooperatives have responded to structural crises and proposes strategies to improve their performance, especially in areas such as financing, member training, and the integration of sector-specific technologies. The methodology used is qualitative, employing the post-positivist paradigm and using hermeneutics to interpret the dynamics of cooperativism and the experiences of the actors involved. The findings highlight that, although cooperativism has a long history in Colombia, it faces significant barriers that limit its growth and sustainability. This analysis concludes that strengthening cooperativism requires innovation, intercooperation, and a more inclusive regulatory framework.

The aim of the study was to generate a model of planning and didactic action by competencies to strengthen the graphic designers training in digital competences development as a fundamental element for project activities production. The research is qualitative, focused on grounded theory and organized in 3 moments: (1) Characterization of graphic design career at Universidad del Zulia, (2) Diagnosis of the elements for the teaching and learning of graphic design proposed by a group of teaching actors, and (3) Model construction. The achievement of digital competence as the foundation of the project activity deserves a pedagogical praxis in correspondence with the complexity of the training requirements in the graphic design area, prepared to develop in students the ability to respond to the profession challenges. As a proposal, a model of planning and didactic action is presented with a transversal vision in the formation of the instrumental axis of the curriculum of the graphic design career oriented to the consolidation of expertise for the use of digital media as support tools for project activity.

Antecedentes: El chile en México es uno de los cultivos más importantes desde los puntos de vista cultural, agronómico, nutricional y económico. Objetivo: Evaluar los efectos de la biofertilización en variables agronómicas y de calidad de chile jalapeño. Metodología: Durante el ciclo primavera-verano 2023 en el campo experimental de la Universidad Politécnica de la Región Laguna se aplicaron los siguientes tratamientos en un genotipo de chile jalapeño hibrido Orizaba F1 a campo abierto: T1: Fertilización química (N 160-P80-K00),T2:Fitohormonas Citocininas (3000 ppm), giberelinas (35 ppm), auxinas (35 ppm) a una dosis de 1 L/ha, T3:Bacterias promotoras del crecimiento (BPC) (Bacillus subtillis:1x1010 UFC, Azospirillum brasilense, Azotobacter vinelandii, Pseudomonas fluorescens: 1x108 UFC) , T4: Bacterias promotoras del crecimiento (BPC) (Bacillus subtillis: 1x1010 UFC, Azospirillum brasilense, Azotobacter vinelandii, Pseudomonas fluorescens: 1x108 UFC) + Fertilización química (80-40-00), T5: Fertilización química (80-40-00). Resultados: En las variables diámetro y longitud de frutos se detectaron diferencias significativas, por lo que la aplicación de bacterias más fertilización química (T4) resultó estadísticamente superior con 32.10 y 79.67 cm respectivamente. La aplicación del T3 presento capacidad para el aumento de flavonoides y vitamina c con una media 935.20 mgEAG 100 g-1 y 123.20 mg 100 g-1. En el contenido de capsaicina el T3 mostro potencial para el acrecentar de este compuesto con 250.40 mg mL-1. Implicaciones: El estudio muestra algunos resultados que pueden servir o efectuarse como una posible solución para la reducción de algunos fertilizantes químicos en el cultivo de chile jalapeño mediante la aplicación de microorganismos benéficos. Conclusión: Las BPC mejoran el crecimiento y la calidad de frutos de chile jalapeño al aumentar el contenido de flavonoides, vitamina C, capsaicina así como el diámetro y longitud de frutos, lo que puede estar asociado con un efecto bioestimulante en el cultivo.

Background: Tomatoes, as a nutraceutical food abundant in vitamins and antioxidants, play a significant role in reducing the risk of various diseases. Integrating advanced agricultural practices, such as using nanoparticles instead of traditional fertilizers, alongside techniques like grafting and deficit irrigation, offers a promising approach to improving their overall quality. Nevertheless, addressing the challenge of water scarcity remains a critical concern in modern agriculture. Objective: To evaluate the growth, yield, and fruit quality of grafted tomato hybrids under deficit irrigation conditions, along with the application of copper nanoparticles. Methodology: This research analyzes the effect of grafting, grafting + 100 ppm CuNPs (copper nanoparticles), and 100 ppm CuNPs on the growth, yield, and quality of Saladette-type tomato hybrids (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Aquiles, Cuauhtémoc, Mesías, and Moctezuma under deficit irrigation (DI) conditions, DI75, and DI50. The variables included plant height (PH), stem diameter (SD), leaf area (LA), average fruit weight (AFW), total fruit weight (TFW), and water use efficiency (WUE). The general fruit quality parameters were polar diameter (PD), equatorial diameter (ED), fruit firmness (FF), total soluble solids (TSS) content, β-carotene, and lycopene content. Results: The Aquiles hybrid achieved a remarkable AFW. The Cuauhtémoc hybrid showed higher β-carotene and lycopene contents. Grafted plants promoted higher AFW, TFW, WUE, and FF. The use of CuNPs induced a higher TSS content, β-carotene, and lycopene. The DI50 affected PH, but WUE was higher without TFW changes, increasing TSS and lycopene content. Implications: The loss of fruit quality in grafted tomato plants is compensated using CuNPs and deficit irrigation. Conclusion: Grafting is a highly effective method for increasing tomato yield, while the application of CuNPs significantly enhances the fruit's internal quality. Furthermore, employing deficit irrigation at 50% (DI50) maximizes water use efficiency, improving specific quality attributes without negatively impacting overall yield.

Background: Soil erosion is a natural process accelerated by anthropogenic activities such as agriculture, leading to increased runoff and erosion, resulting in global environmental and economic losses. Addressing this issue through conservation agriculture is critical, particularly in arid regions where soil degradation is prevalent. This study adds value by evaluating the combined effects of tillage practices and antecedent soil moisture conditions (AMC) on runoff and soil erosion under controlled rainfall simulation. Objective: To assess the effects of tillage practices and AMC on runoff and soil erosion, hypothesizing that conservation-oriented practices would reduce erosion and runoff. Methodology: A randomized complete block design experiment was conducted in an arid zone of North-central Mexico. Four tillage treatments were evaluated: 1) no crop (NC), 2) maize with conventional tillage and crop residues (CTR), 3) maize with conventional tillage (CT), and 4) maize sown by handspike (HS). Each treatment was tested under two AMC scenarios: dry and wet. Runoff and soil erosion were measured, and results were analyzed using ANOVA. Results: Dry AMC significantly reduced erosion in HS (p ≤ 0.01) and CTR (p ≤ 0.05) compared to wet AMC. CT and CTR produced the lowest erosion under wet AMC (p ≤ 0.05). For total runoff, CTR and HS produced the lowest values under dry AMC. These findings highlight the effectiveness of crop residue cover in CTR and no-tillage cropping (HS) in reducing both erosion and runoff. Implications: The study demonstrates the importance of soil moisture conditions and tillage practices in managing erosion. Limitations include the use of simulated rainfall, which may not fully capture natural variability. However, the findings provide valuable insights for conservation agriculture in arid regions. Conclusion: Crop residue cover and no-tillage cropping are effective in reducing soil erosion and runoff, especially under dry AMC. These practices are crucial for sustainable soil management in arid agroecosystems.

Background. Bibliometric analysis and the study of the state of the art are two essential tools to understand the research in the field of analysis of microorganisms in soils. Objective. To analyze, through a literature review, the different methods that exist to study soil microbial diversity. Methodology. The review was carried out in two phases. The first phase consisted in carrying out a state of the art on the main biological and molecular-based methods that have been used to analyze soil microbial diversity, the second phase consisted in a bibliometric analysis, carried out with the help of two software, where revealed the main trends and contributions of the publications, as well as the most influential authors in the field. Results. The main lines of research where techniques are used to analyze edaphic communities are: bioremediation, phylogenetic relationships, agricultural productivity, phytoremediation, nitrification, actinobacteria, molecular ecology and sustainable agriculture. It was found that 358 articles on biological methods and 1468 articles on molecular basis have been published and the latter are the most cited. Implications. Molecular techniques standout as the most frequently used due to their greater precision and great diversity of microorganism identified in soils. Conclusions. China is the most innovative country in this field and is focusing on molecular-based methods.

Background. Disease outbreaks are considered to be a significant drawback in aquaculture development globally which leads aquaculturists to indiscriminate use of antibiotics. Objective. To assess the status of antibiotics use, farmers’ knowledge of risks associated with antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and disease occurrence in fish farms in Katsina state, Nigeria. Methodology Semi-structured questionnaires were  administered to the active and accessible fish farms in the state, The data collected were presented and analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. Results: Most of the respondents were male (87.5%), aged 31 to 40 years and average of 7 years in operation. The majority (78.1%) use antibiotics for curative purposes, and the dominant usage frequency was occasional (28.1%). Majority (75%) of the respondents noted that antibiotics are readily available and moderately priced (46.9%) while the method of addition to water (37.5%) was the most frequently. Fish cure™ (37%), Aquaceryl plus™ (26%) and Oxytetracycline (10%) were the most commonly used antibiotics in the state. Most of the respondents (65.6%) are aware of the risks associated with AMR for fish but many of them (56.2%) are not aware of possible risks associated with consuming fish with antibiotic residue. Disease occurrence is very high (78.1%) among the farms in the state, with the majority (59.3%) having experienced outbreaks between one and three times.  Despite the small scale of fish farming in the state, the mean economic loss due to disease outbreaks stood at ₦594, 605.3±0.21 (USD 371.63). The logistic regression model revealed that years in operation is the major factor influencing the use of antibiotics (P=0.072) and the occurrence of fish diseases (P=0.055) in fish farms in the state. Implication: Antibiotics is highly used in fish farms in the state without prescription by the veterinary experts and the majority of the farmers are not aware of risk associated with consuming fish with antibiotic residue. Conclusion.The study collectively provide a foundation for informed decision-making, targeted interventions, and future research directions in the realm of sustainable and responsible aquaculture practices in Katsina state.

Background. One of the promising alternatives in the control of Spodoptera frugiperda is the use of botanical extracts due to their effectiveness and safety to the environment. Objective. To evaluate aqueous botanical extracts (ABE) in reducing damage by S. frugiperda in corn and their compatibility with the bee Melipona beecheii. Methodology. Aqueous foliar extracts of Azadirachta indica, Capsicum chinense, Chenopodium ambrosioides and Pluchea sericea at 2% (m/v) were applied to maize plants of the Sorento hybrid and their activity against S. frugiperda was determined under a completely randomized block design in two experiments. The toxicity of ABE ingestion was also evaluated in the laboratory in M. beecheii and the chromatographic profile of the extracts was carried out using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Results. The application of ABE in corn had no effect on the percentage of damaged plants, but did reduce the severity of damage (degree of damage) in Experiment 1. The ABE had no effects on the mortality or walking activity of M. beecheii. The major compounds of ABEs include terpenoids, phenols and fatty acids. Implications. The use of ABE can be an alternative for the control of S. frugiperda, but it is necessary to continue with evaluations of different concentrations and application frequencies. Conclusions. ABEs had no effects on the incidence of damage by S. frugiperda. Its effects on damage severity were inconsistent. ABEs could be compatible with pollinators, such as M. beecheii.