Super-twisting current regulator for a six-phase induction motor in field weakening conditions

This paper addresses the regulation of stator currents in a six-phase asymmetrical induction machine during field-weakening operation, accounting for disturbances and parameter variations. Current control is performed in the d–q, α–β, and x–y reference planes. A novel double-loop current controller based on a discrete-time super-twisting algorithm is proposed to enhance current regulation, particularly under field-weakening conditions where current tracking errors typically deteriorate. This controller ensures precise current tracking with fast error convergence and improved robustness to uncertainties. Experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the controller under both transient and steady-state conditions, including during the field weakening operation.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaPrograma Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología. Proyectos Estratégico

Air quality dataset of particulate matter PM2.5 & PM10 from the monitoring network in Asuncion metropolitan area, Paraguay

Corresponding author. E-mail address: [email protected] (C. Recalde).The present dataset contains three years of continuous, high-frequency air-quality monitoring of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) in the metropolitan area of Asunción and the Western Region of Paraguay. Data were collected from eleven monitoring stations: nine in urban Asunción, one at the National University of Asunción campus in San Lorenzo, and one in the semi-rural Cerrito, Paraguayan Chaco. The monitoring period covers from April 2019 to December 2021. The monitoring network was established to record spatio-temporal variations in particulate matter concentrations throughout urban and semi-rural environments. Key meteorological variables, including temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, and wind direction, were continuously recorded to enable analysis of dispersion trends. Particulate matter concentrations were measured at five-minute intervals using Optical Particle Counters (OPC—N2), with data automatically transmitted to a central server every thirty minutes for quality control, storage, and processing. This dataset allows direct comparison with national air-quality standards established by the National Resolution No 259/2015 of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development. Its full coverage supports policy evaluation, cross-sector assessments, and studies on environmental and public health impacts. Full technical documentation is included to secure transparency, traceability, and reproducibility, providing the basis for management and scientific research in Paraguay.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaPrograma Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología. Proyectos de investigación y desarroll

Screening-positive attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms among incarcerated individuals in Paraguay : prevalence, psychological correlates, and criminological context

Correspondence: Michael Liebrenz, [email protected] documento forma parte de la sección especializada Forensic Psychiatry.Background: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms are frequently reported among incarcerated populations and have been associated with impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, and adverse mental health outcomes. Despite growing international evidence, no previous studies have examined screening-positive ADHD symptoms among prisoners in Paraguay or evaluated Spanish-language screening tools in correctional settings. Aim: To estimate the prevalence of screening-positive ADHD symptoms among incarcerated men and women in Paraguay, examine selected psychological and criminological variables, and assess the reliability and factorial structure of the Spanish version of the Symptom Check List–ADHD (SCL-ADHD). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 836 inmates (621 men, 215 women) recruited through probabilistic sampling in three Paraguayan prisons. Screening-positive ADHD status was defined as a score ≥ 12 on the nine-item SCL-ADHD derived from the SCL-90-R. Psychiatric symptoms, suicide risk, and substance-related problems were assessed using validated measures. Multivariable logistic regression identified independent correlates of screening-positive ADHD status. Results: Screening-positive ADHD status was observed in 33.4% of participants, with higher prevalence among women than men (39.1% vs. 31.4%; OR = 1.40, 95% CI 1.02–1.93, p = 0.04). Screening-positive ADHD was independently associated with suicide risk (OR = 3.85, p < 0.001) and elevated SCL-90-R dimensions of hostility, anxiety, depression, and obsessive–compulsive symptoms. Sensitivity analyses using continuous symptom scores showed associations with hostility, anxiety, and obsessive–compulsive symptoms remained, whereas association with depression attenuated. No significant independent associations were observed with criminological variables. The Spanish SCL-ADHD demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.76) and a coherent symptom structure. Conclusion: Screening-positive ADHD symptoms were common among incarcerated individuals in Paraguay, particularly women, and were associated with concurrent emotional dysregulation and suicidality. These findings reflect screening-based symptom burden rather than confirmed adult ADHD diagnoses and highlight the potential utility of systematic ADHD screening within correctional mental health services.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaPrograma Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología. Proyectos de investigación y desarroll

Involvement of serotonergic and dopaminergic systems in Aloysia gratissima var. gratissima : antidepressant-like effect, UPLC-DAD-MS chemical characterization, and computational evidence

Correspondence: [email protected] or [email protected] article belongs to the Special Issue Neuropharmacology of Plant Extracts and Their Active Compounds (Second Edition).Background/Objectives: As the prevalence of depression and the use of antidepressants have risen steadily in the last decade, new treatment options are needed. Aloysia gratissima var. gratissima ethanol extract has previously shown antidepressant-like activity, and the present study was conducted to identify the active fraction and clarify the possible mechanisms of action. Methods: Tail suspension (TST) and forced swimming (FST) behavioral tests were performed, and possible mechanisms of action were elucidated using serotonergic, dopaminergic, adrenergic, and GABAergic system antagonists. UPLC-DAD-MS analyses were performed to identify compounds in active fractions, and molecular docking studies were carried out to determine the binding affinities of these compounds to serotonergic and dopaminergic receptors (5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, 5-HT3, and D2R). Results: Ethyl acetate and butanol fractions were found to decrease immobility time in FST. The reduction in immobility time during the FST caused by the ethyl acetate fraction was reversed by pretreating mice with WAY100635 (5-HT1A antagonist), ketanserin (a 5-HT2A antagonist, ondansetron (5-HT3 antagonist), or haloperidol (D2 antagonist). UPLC-DAD-MS analysis revealed a similar composition for the ethyl acetate and butanol fractions of A. gratissima var. gratissima. Pharmacokinetic predictions suggest that only a few of the identified compounds have the potential to permeate the blood–brain barrier, and molecular docking simulations showed that compounds such as 13-oxooctadecadienoic acid, ferulic acid, and coumaric acid have binding affinities to the druggable site of serotonergic and dopaminergic receptors. Conclusions: These results suggest that the Agg ethyl acetate fraction possesses antidepressant-like activities, altering dopaminergic and serotonergic system functions. Computational simulations also suggest that some of the identified compounds have binding affinities to the 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, 5-HT3, and D2R receptors.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaPrograma Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología. Proyectos de investigación y desarroll

Anurans of the Ñeembucú department (Paraguay) : diversity in a wetland mosaic

Autor corresponsal: Griselda Zárate-Betzel: [email protected] humedales son ecosistemas clave que brindan múltiples servicios ecosistémicos esenciales para el bienestar humano. En Paraguay, más del 25% del territorio corresponde a ambientes húmedos, asociados a las grandes cuencas de los ríos Paraguay y Paraná. En el departamento de Ñeembucú, a pesar de la alta representatividad de humedales en su territorio, la información disponible sobre su biodiversidad es limitada, y los estudios sistemáticos sobre su anurofauna son prácticamente inexistentes. En este estudio se presenta información sobre la riqueza y composición de especies de anuros en tres localidades del departamento de Ñeembucú. El muestreo fue realizado entre febrero de 2020 y julio de 2021 totalizando 40 noches de esfuerzo, a través de búsqueda visual y auditiva de anuros. Se registraron 28 especies pertenecientes a seis familias, lo que representa el 31% de la riqueza registrada para Paraguay. El análisis de la cobertura de muestras indicó que el esfuerzo fue adecuado para capturar la mayoría de las especies presentes en los sitios estudiados. Si bien las especies identificadas presentan actualmente un estado de conservación favorable según las categorizaciones disponibles, la rápida transformación de estos humedales, especialmente por la expansión de la agricultura a gran escala, representa una amenaza creciente. Por ello, es fundamental incrementar los esfuerzos de conservación a través de la creación y manejo adecuado de áreas protegidas y promover prácticas económicas responsables con la naturaleza.Wetlands are key ecosystems that provide multiple ecosystem services essential to human well-being. In Paraguay, more than 25% of the territory consists of wetlands associated with the large Paraguay and Paraná river basins. In the department of Ñeembucú, despite the high proportion of wetlands in its territory, the information available on its biodiversity is limited, and systematic studies on its anuran fauna are practically non-existent. This study presents information on the richness and composition of amphibian species in three locations in the department of Ñeembucú. Sampling was carried out between February 2020 and July 2021, totaling 40 nights of effort, through visual and auditory searches for amphibians. Twenty-eight species belonging to five families were recorded, representing 31% of the species documented for Paraguay. Analysis of the sample coverage indicated that the effort was adequate to capture most of the species present at the study sites. Although the identified species currently have a favorable conservation status according to available categorizations, the rapid transformation of these wetlands, especially due to the expansion of large-scale agriculture, represents a growing threat. Therefore, it is essential to increase conservation efforts through the establishment and proper management of protected areas, and to promote economic practices that are responsible toward nature.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaPrograma Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología. Proyectos de investigación y desarroll

ACO-Path : ACO-based informative path planning with Gaussian processes for water monitoring with a fleet of ASVs

Correspondence: [email protected] article belongs to the Special Issue Path Planning and Navigation for Autonomous Vehicles and Intelligent Robots.Autonomous surface vehicles can support water-quality monitoring, but they require planners that place measurements where they most improve the environmental estimate under mission constraints. This paper proposes ACO-Path, an informative path planner that couples Ant Colony Optimization -Ant System- with online Gaussian Process mapping. During the mission, the Gaussian Process updates a mean or contamination map and a variance or uncertainty map, from which dynamic action zones are derived and used to guide an explicit explore then exploit policy. The method is evaluated in a simulated water resource monitoring scenario inspired by Lake Ypacaraí, considering three exploration distances and two heuristic weights. In a comparison against five baseline planners, ACOPath achieves the lowest hotspot error, Errorpeak = 0.19896 0.39400, while remaining competitive in global reconstruction, MSEmap = 0.00144 0.00348, R2 = 0.96066 0.09861. In addition, a turning analysis based on the absolute heading change between consecutive segments shows that ACO-Path produces smoother trajectories, with fewer sharp turns 45 than counterpart baselines under the same mission constraints.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaPrograma Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología. Proyectos de investigación y desarroll

First bioprospecting of Fomes fasciatus : evaluation, selection, domestication, and biotechnological profiling of strains from Paraguay

Background. Fomes fomentarius is a medicinal mushroom from the Northern Hemisphere, recognized for its therapeutic and biotechnological applications. In contrast, tropical Fomes species remain poorly characterized, and information on their properties and cultivation is limited. We evaluated the biotechnological potential of the Neotropical species Fomes fasciatus. Four strains from Paraguay were isolated and assessed for growth on solid media, using both potato dextrose agar and oat seeds, and for indoor basidiomata production using a sawdust-based substrate. The strain showing the best performance on solid media was further evaluated for mycelial growth and exopolysaccharide production in liquid culture. Additionally, the nutritional and mineral composition of wild and cultivated basidiomata and mycelium was analyzed. Results. Fomes fasciatus optimal growth on solid media was observed at approximately 32 °C, with no significant differences in basidiomata yield across strains under indoor cultivation. Successful domestication was achieved for three of the four strains studied. Exopolysaccharide production remained statistically unaffected by elicitor supplementation (i.e., CaCl2 or Tween 40) or variation in carbon and nitrogen sources of the liquid media. In contrast, mycelial biomass was significantly higher in the basal medium than in modified treatments. The wild and domesticated basidiomata and mycelium exhibited high protein content, a balanced amino acid profile, dietary fiber, and unsaturated fatty acids, along with essential macroelements such as zinc. Conclusion. These findings highlight that F. fasciatus is a promising medicinal mushroom species with potential for indoor cultivation, characterized by fast mycelial growth and valuable nutritional and bioactive properties.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaPrograma Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología. Proyectos de investigación y desarroll

A SiC-MOSFET bidirectional switch solution for direct matrix converter topologies

Correspondence: [email protected] or [email protected] article belongs to the Special Issue Power Electronics and Actuators—Second Edition.Bidirectional switches are highly required power electronics units for the design of power converters, especially for direct matrix converters. This article presents the design and implementation of a compact bidirectional switch based on SiC-MOSFET technology, aimed at high-efficiency, high-density power electronics applications. The proposed architecture employs surface-mount components, optimizing both the occupied area and electrical performance. The selected switching device is the IMBG120R053M2H from Infineon, a SiC-MOSFET known for its low on-resistance, high reverse-voltage blocking capability, and excellent switching speed. To drive the power devices, the UCC21521 gate driver integrates two independent isolated outputs in a single package, enabling precise control and reduced electromagnetic interference (EMI). The developed design supports bidirectional current conduction and voltage blocking, offering a robust and scalable solution for next-generation power converters. Design criteria, simulation results, and experimental validations are discussed.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. Proyectos de creación y fortalecimiento de maestrías y doctorados de excelenciaPrograma Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología. Proyectos Estratégico

Dataset of manually curated peptides against arthropod-borne viruses

Corresponding author. E-mail address: [email protected] (J. Colbes). Social media: @jcolbes (J. Colbes).Anti-arboviral peptides are biomolecules capable of interfering with key stages of the arboviral lifecycle. We present a dataset compiling 270 peptides composed of standard amino acids with reported activity against arboviruses, along with their lengths, sequences, target specificities, peptide entry mechanisms, and interaction mechanisms. The dataset was structured to support the training of machine learning models designed to identify anti-arboviral peptides. Therefore, it facilitates the development and validation of predictive tools against arboviruses. As a carefully assembled and expert-reviewed resource, this dataset aims to serve as a reference standard for evaluating new prediction models or comparing them with automatically compiled peptide datasets. This resource provides a comprehensive overview of the antiviral mechanisms currently being explored and can serve as a foundation for designing next-generation peptides targeting arboviral infections.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. Financiamiento de estancias de investigació

Tecnología para el desarrollo del sistema de salud local: sistema web para el registro, control y gestión de datos de pacientes con diagnóstico médico de dengue

El presente documento describe la propuesta e implementación de un sistema web para el registro, control y visualización de datos de pacientes con diagnóstico médico de dengue. Este proyecto surge como respuesta a la necesidad de mejorar la vigilancia epidemiológica y la gestión de datos en el sector salud, especialmente en regiones afectadas por brotes recurrentes de dengue. A través de la integración de Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación (TIC), se busca optimizar los procesos de registro, análisis y reporte de casos, facilitando la toma de decisiones y la implementación de medidas preventivas. Este documento, realizado en el marco del proyecto de investigación INIC01-408 cofinanciado por el Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT) con recursos del FEEI, contiene la información técnica del desarrollo del proyecto, pero también un enfoque didáctico, buscando con ello acercar la ciencia a la ciudadanía y a los estudiantes. El proyecto está enmarcado en los proyectos de iniciación a la investigación, concretamente en fortalecimiento de líneas de investigación, aunque se relaciona estrechamente con un enfoque de “investigación aplicada CTS”, entendiendo con ello que la tecnología es para el bien colectivo. Por esa razón, la investigación tuvo momentos de trabajo de campo con personas que realizan su labor profesional con este tipo de sistemas web, ya que la tecnología debe estar al servicio de los profesionales especializados. Importante destacar que el equipo de investigación estuvo liderado por un egresado de la Universidad Autónoma de Encarnación (UNAE), tutorizado por otro profesional egresado de la misma institución y que en el equipo de trabajo estuvieron recientes egresados, todos ellos de la Licenciatura en Análisis de Sistemas Informáticos. Esto da cuenta de cómo la UNAE inserta la ciencia en sus titulaciones de grado y postgrado a sabiendas de que esta puede ser una forma de desarrollo profesional y personal. Además, el área de la Tecnología es un área que puede traer muchos beneficios sociales y económicos al Paraguay, resultando la ciencia clave en dicho aprovechamiento. En esta línea, este proyecto se trata del 2º que involucra a la tecnología con la salud, ya que en 2021 se ejecutó el PINV20-9 “Tecnología digital para optimizar la salud mental y el bienestar en pacientes crónicos durante la crisis del COVID-19 en Paraguay”. En aquella ocasión, el equipo de trabajo involucró a profesionales del ámbito social, pero sirvió como un antecedente para pensar en una línea de trabajo desde los recursos humanos locales. Así pues, queda a disposición de la sociedad este material para nuevas propuestas a partir de los resultados, para visibilizar la inversión pública en ciencia y para generar una cultura científica en la sociedad civil y estudiantes de la Educación Superior.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaPrograma Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología. Proyectos de investigación y desarroll