Bug off or bug out : mapping flight secrets of Triatoma garciabesi (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) through climate, geography, and greenery

Correspondence: Julieta Nattero, [email protected]. Ana Laura Carbajal de la Fuente, [email protected]: Triatoma garciabesi is a vector of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, and is found across northwest and central Argentina, southern Bolivia, and western Paraguay. It frequently invades rural houses during the warm seasons and is common in peridomestic and wild environments. Recently, the existence of two lineages has been demonstrated based on variation in cytochrome c oxidase I gene (coI). These lineages occur across the species distribution range and coincide with different ecological regions. Here, we aim to examine how phenotypic variation in flight-related traits is structured, determine the association between these traits and geographic distance, and identify the climatic, geographic, and/or vegetation cover variables that best explain the morphometric variation in flight-related traits. Methods: A total of 198 males of T. garciabesi from 24 populations in Argentina and Paraguay were included in this study, covering almost the entire T. garciabesi distribution range. Size and shape components of the forewing, membranous, and stiff portions of the forewing and head were measured using a landmark-based methodology. Results: Our study documents that the size component of the membranous and stiff portions showed significant variation across the species range. Although forewing and head shape did not show significant differences in Procrustes distances across all pairs of populations, the membranous and stiff portions did. There is a strong and consistent association between shape and geographic distances at all levels of comparison (species and lineage ranges). The size and shape components and the geographic, climatic, and/or vegetation indexes explained covariation in all flight-related traits. Discussion: T. garciabesi appears to be a species sensitive to vegetation cover and landscape features. This study provides evidence for this by showing clear variation in flight-related traits across the species and lineage distribution range, as well as indications of isolation by distance and variation in flight-related traits according to climate, geography, and vegetation cover.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaPrograma Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología. Sistema Nacional de Investigadore

Determination of the method of induction of mutations by gamma radiation in soybeans (Glycine max L. Merrill) for tolerance to carbonic rot produced by the fungus Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi Goid.)

Corresponding authors. E-mail addresses: [email protected] (A. Samudio-Oggero), [email protected] (H.D. Nakayama N.).In recent years, there has been an increase in the appearance of charcoal root rot disease in soy- beans crops (Glycine max L. Merril). Charcoal rot is caused by the soil-borne fungus Macrophomina phaseolina. This disease is typically exacerbated by water deficiency and high temperatures. To evaluate the soybean genotypes’ response to this pathogen, novel genotypes developed through gamma irradiation of 150 Gy and 200 Gy were tested under, in field and greenhouse conditions. Additionally, total phenol content was analyzed as a potential indicator of plant tolerance. The results indicate that the incidence of disease in non-irradiated genotypes was 100 %, in genotypes irradiated with a dose of 150 Gy it was 87 %, and those irradiated with a dose of 200 Gy a 100 %. An increase in the level of total phenols was observed in the tolerant genotypes as well as some mutant genotypes with characteristics that show tolerance to the charcoal root rot disease. The results suggest that gamma radiation-induced mutation may be an effective method for breeding disease-resistant soybean varieties. • This variability method can be applied to any plant species. • This method can cause mutations in any part of the genome, this allows its application to be unlimited. • It is a method that can be used in a complementary way to other plant breeding methods.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaPrograma Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología. Proyectos de investigación y desarroll

Excess tuberculosis risk during and following incarceration in Paraguay : a retrospective cohort study

Corresponding author. Cátedra de Salud Pública, Universidad Nacional de Asunción (UNA), Paraguay. E-mail address: [email protected] (G. Sequera).Background. The increased risk of tuberculosis (TB) among people deprived of liberty (PDL) is due to individual and institution-level factors. We followed a cohort of PDL from 5 prisons in Paraguay to describe the risk of TB during incarceration and after they were released. Methods. We linked a 2013 national census of prisons with TB records from the TB Program from 2010 to 2021 to identify TB notifications among incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals. We used multivariable Cox regression models to quantify the risk of TB during and following incarceration and to identify risk factors associated with TB. Findings. Among 2996 individuals incarcerated, 451 (15.1%) were diagnosed with TB. Of these, 262 (58.1%) cases occurred during incarceration and 189 (41.9%) occurred in the community after release. In prison, the hazard ratio of developing TB was 1.97 (95% CI: 1.52–2.61) after six months of incarceration and increased to 2.78 (95% CI: 1.82–4.24) after 36 months compared with the first six months. The overall TB notification rate was 2940 per 100,000 person-years. This rate increased with the duration of incarceration from 1335 per 100,000 person-years in the first year to 8455 per 100,000 person-years after 8 years. Among former prisoners, the rate of TB decreased from 1717 in the first year after release to 593 per 100 000 person-years after 8 years of follow up. Interpretation. Our study shows the alarming risk of TB associated with prison environments in Paraguay, and how this risk persists for years following incarceration. Effective TB control measures to protect the health of people during and following incarceration are urgently needed.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaPrograma Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología. Proyectos de investigación y desarroll

Brillo de escamas

Esta obra es parte de la colección de cuatro libros de cuentos creada en el marco del Proyecto de Comunicación y Divulgación de Ciencia y Tecnología “Guardianes de la noche: Una mirada científica a los animales nocturnos y su importancia en los ecosistemas (COMU01-10)” cofinanciado por el Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT) con el apoyo del Fondo para la Excelencia de la Educación y la Investigación (FEEI).La ciencia y la literatura se unen para brindarnos una mirada diferente sobre animales nocturnos que, a pesar de su gran importancia en los ecosistemas, suelen ser incomprendidos y, además, despertar temor. Los cuentos, narrados en español y guaraní, relatan las aventuras de animales que habitan en diversos ecosistemas de Paraguay, brindando información sobre sus características, comportamiento y amenazas que enfrentan. Esta obra forma parte de una colección de cuatro libros de cuentos creados en el marco del Proyecto de Comunicación y Divulgación de Ciencia y Tecnología “Guardianes de la noche: Una mirada científica a los animales nocturnos y su importancia en los ecosistemas (COMU01-10)”. Cada libro contiene dos cuentos que se enfocan en un grupo de animales nocturnos: anfibios, reptiles, aves y murciélagos, e incluyen guías didácticas para docentes. ¡Adéntrate en el misterio y la magia de la vida nocturna, y descubre el verdadero valor de estos asombrosos animales a través de una cautivadora lectura!Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaPrograma Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología. Programa de apoyo a proyectos de comunicación de la ciencia y la tecnologí

Field-weakening strategy with modulated predictive current control applied to six-phase induction machines

Correspondence: [email protected] (M.A.); [email protected] (J.D.-G.)This article belongs to the Section Electrical Machines and Drives.The predictive current controller has arisen as a practicable technique for operating multiphase machines due to its fast dynamic response, control flexibility, and overall good performance. However, this type of controller has limitations, e.g., it tends to suffer from steady-state tracking errors in (−) currents; high computational burden; and high (−) currents, which become more pronounced at higher speeds, thereby worsening its sustainability. While some proposals have addressed these limitations by incorporating modulation stages and new cost functions, there is still room for improvement, particularly at higher speeds. In line with the pursuit of sustainable advancements, this article explores the integration of a field-weakening strategy with a modulated predictive current controller applied to a six-phase induction machine to improve its performance at current tracking for higher speed ranges. Experimental tests were conducted to validate the effectiveness of the proposed controller, assessing stator current tracking, reduction in the (−) currents, and the total harmonic distortion.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaPrograma Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología. Proyectos de investigación y desarrolloPrograma Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología. Programa Nacional de Incentivo a los Investigadore

Energy-and-blocking-aware routing and device assignment in software-defined networking—a MILP and genetic algorithm approach

Correspondence: [email protected] article belongs to the Section Engineering.Internet energy consumption has increased rapidly, and energy conservation has become a significant issue that requires focused research efforts. The most promising solution is to identify the minimum power subsets within the network and shut down unnecessary network devices and links to satisfy traffic loads. Due to their distributed network control, implementing a centralized and coordinated strategy in traditional networks is challenging. Software-Defined Networking (SDN) is an emerging technology with dynamic, manageable, cost-effective, and adaptable solutions. SDN decouples network control and forwarding functions, allowing network control to be directly programmable, centralizing control with a global network view to manage power states. Nevertheless, it is crucial to develop efficient algorithms that leverage the centralized control of SDN to achieve maximum energy savings and consider peak traffic times. Traffic demand usually cannot be satisfied, even when all network devices are active. This work jointly addresses the routing of traffic flows and the assignment of SDN devices to these flows, called the Routing and Device Assignment (RDA) problem. It simultaneously seeks to minimize the network’s energy consumption and blocked traffic flows. For this approach, we develop an exact solution based on Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) as well as a metaheuristic based on a Genetic Algorithm (GA) that seeks to optimize both criteria by routing flows efficiently and suspending devices not used by the flows. Conducted simulations on traffic environment scenarios show up to 34% savings in overall energy consumption for the MILP and 33% savings achieved by the GA. These values are better than those obtained using competitive state-of-the-art strategies.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaPrograma Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología. Proyectos de creación y fortalecimiento de maestrías y doctorados de excelenci

Diversity and dominance in bird assemblages across habitats in the Ñeembucú wetlands complex

Correspondence: Fernando Silla, Área de Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Campus Unamuno s/n, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain. Email: [email protected] how diversity responds to habitat heterogeneity in a landscape is a central issue for implementing effective conservation plans. In this study, we analyzed how the composition and abundance of neotropical bird assemblages vary among habitats in the Ñeembucú Wetlands Complex, the largest wetland system in Paraguay. Bird surveys were conducted during 1 year within dominant habitats in the landscape: riparian forests, natural grasslands, savannas, and anthropized sites. The Ñeembucú Wetlands Complex showed a high bird richness (209 species) that contrasted with a pattern of dominance by a small set of 16 species that comprised half of the abundance. This set of oligarchic species consists of generalist species that exploited a wide variety of habitats and were well adapted to human disturbance, contributing to an important overlap in the composition of assemblages. However, despite this overall similarity, there is still significant differentiation in bird assemblages, especially between habitats with the most contrasting vegetation physiognomy. Riparian forests and savannas showed higher diversity values than the more structurally homogeneous grasslands. Also, all natural habitats showed, in general, higher diversity values than anthropized sites. Oligarchic species had higher importance in anthropized environments, which also had the most uneven distribution of abundance between species, indicating the dominance by a smaller number of species and the loss of ecological diversity as farmland and urban development increase.Comprender cómo la diversidad responde a la heterogeneidad de hábitats en el paisaje es un aspecto central en la implementación planes de conservación eficaces. En este trabajo analizamos cómo la composición y abundancia de los ensambles de aves neotropicales varían entre los hábitats del Complejo de Humedales de Ñeembucú, el sistema de humedales más grande de Paraguay. Se realizaron censos de aves durante un año en los hábitats dominantes en el paisaje: bosques ribereños, pastizales naturales, sabanas y sitios antropizados. El Complejo de Humedales de Ñeembucú mostró una alta riqueza de aves (209 especies) que contrastó con un patrón de dominancia por un pequeño grupo de 16 especies que constituía la mitad de la abundancia. Este conjunto de especies oligárquicas consta de especies generalistas que explotan una amplia variedad de hábitats y están bien adaptadas a la presencia humana, lo que contribuye a un importante solapamiento en la composición de los ensambles de aves. Sin embargo, a pesar de esta similitud general, existe una diferenciación significativa en los ensambles de aves, especialmente entre hábitats con mayores diferencias en la fisonomía de la vegetación. Los bosques ribereños y las sabanas mostraron valores de diversidad más altos que los estructuralmente más homogéneos pastizales. Además, todos los hábitats naturales mostraron, en general, valores de diversidad más altos que los sitios antropizados. Las especies oligárquicas fueron más importantes en ambientes antropizados, que además presentaban la distribución más desigual de abundancia entre especies, lo que indica el predominio de un conjunto menor de especies y apunta a la pérdida de diversidad ecológica a medida que aumenten las tierras de cultivo y el desarrollo urbano.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaPrograma Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología. Proyectos de investigación y desarroll

Antioxidant activity, antiproliferative activity, antiviral activity, no production inhibition, and chemical composition of essential oils and crude extracts of leaves, flower buds, and stems of Tetradenia riparia

Correspondence: Zilda Cristiani Gazim, [email protected] article belongs to the Special Issue Anticancer Compounds in Medicinal Plants - In Honour of the 20th Anniversary of Pharmaceuticals.The chemical composition of extracts (CEs) and essential oils (EOs) from Tetradenia riparia leaves, flower buds, and stems was analyzed. Antiproliferative activity against tumor cell lines, NO production inhibition, and antioxidant and antiviral activities were assessed. The CEs contained flavonoids, phenolic acids, coumarins, and saturated fatty acids. The EOs included monoterpenes, oxygenated sesquiterpenes, and diterpenes. NO production inhibition ranged from 76 to 247 µg mL−1, and antiproliferative activity exhibited GI50 between 20 and >204 µg mL−1, with low cytotoxicity (SI: 1.08 to 4.75). Reactive oxygen species inhibition ranged from 45 to 82%. Antioxidant activity varied when determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay (IC50: 0.51 to 8.47 mg mL−1) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (0.35 to 0.81 µM ferrous sulfate per mg). The reduction in β-carotene–linoleic acid co-oxidation varied between 76.13 and 102.25%. The total phenolic content of CEs and EOs was 10.70 to 111.68 µg gallic acid mg−1. Antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) showed an EC50 between 9.64 and 24.55 µg mL−1 and an SI between 8.67 and 15.04. Leaf EOs exhibited an EC50 of 9.64 µg mL−1 and an SI of 15.04. Our study unveils the diverse chemical composition and multifaceted pharmacological properties of T. riparia, demonstrating its potential as a valuable source of bioactive compounds for therapeutic applications.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaPrograma Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología. Proyectos de investigación y desarroll

Predictive voltage control in multi-modular matrix converters under load variation and fault scenario

Correspondence: [email protected] or [email protected] article belongs to the Section Information and Communication Technologies.This paper presents a model predictive control (MPC) strategy to regulate output voltages in a multi-modular matrix converter topology for isolated loads. The converter system harnesses power from a six-phase permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) to deliver sinusoidal voltages to a three-phase load, with LC filters positioned at the output of each MC module within the multi-modular scheme. The proposed MPC approach ensures that the output voltages remain within acceptable ranges of magnitude, phase, and frequency, even under load variations and system faults. This control strategy is particularly suitable for uninterruptible power supply systems, microgrids or other applications where voltage regulation is critical. Experimental studies validate the effectiveness of the control strategy under various load conditions, reference voltage changes, and simulated system fault scenarios. The results highlight the robustness and reliability of the proposed voltage control using the multi-modular matrix converter.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaPrograma Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología. Proyectos de creación y fortalecimiento de maestrías y doctorados de excelenciaPrograma Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología. Incentivos para la formación de investigadores en postgrados nacionalesPrograma Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología. Proyectos de investigación y desarroll

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection and risk behavior in vaccinated and non-vaccinated paraguayan young women

Correspondence: [email protected] article belongs to the Special Issue Latest Advances in Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Research.Cervical cancer is a global health concern and ranks fourth among the most prevalent cancers in women worldwide. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a known precursor of cervical cancer and preventive measures include prophylactic vaccines. This study focused on sexually active Paraguayan women aged 18–25 years, exploring the intersection of HPV vaccination and sexual behavior. Among 254 participants, 40.9% received the Gardasil-4 vaccine, with no significant differences in sexual behavior between the vaccinated and unvaccinated sexually active groups. However, a notable decrease in the prevalence of HPV among the vaccinated women highlights the efficacy of this vaccine in reducing infections. The prevalence of any HPV type was 37.5% in vaccinated participants compared to 56.7% in unvaccinated participants (p = 0.0026). High-risk HPV types showed a significant difference, with a prevalence of 26.0% in vaccinated women compared with 52.7% in unvaccinated women (p < 0.001). Although a potential decline in genital warts was observed among the vaccinated individuals, statistical significance (p = 0.0564) was not reached. Despite the challenges in achieving high vaccination coverage, the observed reduction in HPV prevalence underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring, healthcare professional recommendations, and comprehensive risk management. These findings contribute to dispelling concerns about HPV vaccination influencing sexual behavior, advocating further large-scale research to explore the impact of vaccines on various HPV types and potential cross-protection.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaPrograma Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología. Proyectos de investigación y desarroll