Estructura espacial policéntrica del Área Metropolitana de Asunción (AMA)

Asunción es el centro de empleo. Fernando de la Mora y San Lorenzo son los subcentros de empleo identificados. Esto comprende una estructura policéntrica del empleo en el Área Metropolitana de Asunción (AMA). Existe una alta correlación entre la densidad del empleo y la densidad poblacional. Recomendaciones de políticas: 1. Coordinación vertical y horizontal entre el gobierno nacional y los gobiernos locales. 2. Planificación del transporte urbano considerando a Asunción y los subcentros como destinos clave. 3. El policentrismo representa mayor eficiencia en términos de costo. 4. Generación y publicación de datos más desagregados espacialmente.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaPrograma Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología. Proyectos de investigación y desarroll

Aprendizado de máquina para classificação de variáveis multivariadas em raças bovinas criadas em pântanos do Paraguai

Corresponding author - E-mail: [email protected] study focuses on the performance of cows for meat production raised in the wetlands of Paraguay, examining five cattle genotypes: Brahman, Brangus, and Nelore, as well as two local breeds at risk of extinction. The main objective is to identify and rank phenotypic variables, including blood, clinical, hair, and health variables, demonstrating causal linkage with the live weight of the cows analyzed. Initially, high correlations were identified between different variables included in this study; then, using advanced Machine learning (ML) techniques and the application of Shapley additive explanations (SHAP), a deeper understanding was provided of the factors strongly associated with adaptability in these environments, and, therefore, the respective zootechnical performance. The association between cattle genotypic components linked with the season of the year proved to be the most influential factor on cattle live weight. Variables such as hair length, hematocrit, phosphatase, phosphorus, creatine phosphokinase, creatinine, protein, cortisol, calcium, and the presence of endoparasites were highlighted, demonstrating their hierarchical importance for animal selection. ML models are effective tools for establishing hierarchies of relevance in complex phenotypic multivariable, which is crucial in breeding programs for different zootechnical species and in special and specific environments like wetlands.Este estudo foca no desempenho de vacas para produção de carne, criadas nos pântanos do Paraguai, examinando cinco genótipos bovinos; Brahman, Brangus, Nelore, bem como duas raças locais em risco de extinção. O principal objetivo é identificar e classificar variáveis fenotípicas que incluem variáveis sanguíneas, clínicas, de pelagem e saúde, demonstrando ligação causal com o peso vivo das vacas analisadas. Inicialmente, foram identificadas correlações elevadas entre diferentes variáveis incluídas neste estudo, e, então, utilizando técnicas avançadas de aprendizado de máquina e a aplicação de explicações aditivas de Shapley (SHAP), foi proporcionado um entendimento mais profundo dos fatores fortemente associados à adaptabilidade nestes ambientes, e, portanto, o respectivo desempenho zootécnico. A associação entre o componente genotípico bovino ligado à estação do ano mostrou ser o fator influente mais predominante sobre o peso vivo bovino. Variáveis como comprimento do pelo, hematócrito, fosfatase, fósforo, creatina phosphokinase, creatinina, proteína, cortisol, cálcio e a presença de endoparasitas foram destacadas, demonstrando sua importância hierárquica para a seleção animal. Os modelos de ML são ferramentas eficazes para estabelecer hierarquias de relevância em multivariáveis fenotípicas complexas, o que é crucial em programas de melhoramento genético em diferentes espécies zootécnicas, bem como em ambientes especiais e específicos, como os pântanos.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaPrograma Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología. Financiamiento de estancias de investigació

Bone scan images dataset for study of bone metastases in adult breast cancer patients at IICS-UNA, Paraguay

Corresponding author. E-mail address: [email protected] (J.C. Mello-Román).This article presents 582 bone scan images from 291 adult patients who attended the Nuclear Medicine Service at the Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (IICS) of the Universidad Nacional de Asunción (UNA), Paraguay, between 2020 and 2024. The images were acquired using trimodal SPECT-CT-PET equipment, model AnyScan SCP, and the MEDISO brand. Approximately 20 mCi of technetium-99m methylene diphosphonate (99mTc-MDP) was administered to each patient, producing whole-body planar images in anterior and posterior projections of the axial and appendicular skeleton with a resolution of 256 × 1024 pixels. The images were labeled according to the final diagnosis by a nuclear physician, covering conditions ranging from joint lesions to bone metastases. This dataset will be helpful for researchers working on bone scan image analysis using artificial intelligence techniques to classify bone metastases.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaPrograma Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología. Proyectos de investigación y desarroll

Diversity of Anaplasmataceae transmitted by ticks (Ixodidae) and the first molecular evidence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Candidatus Anaplasma boleense in Paraguay

Correspondence: [email protected] article belongs to the Section Parasitology.Anaplasmataceae bacteria are emerging infectious agents transmitted by ticks. The aim of this study was to identify the molecular diversity of this bacterial family in ticks and hosts, both domestic and wild, as well as blood meal sources of free-living ticks in northeastern Paraguay. The bacteria were identified using PCR-HRM, a method optimized for this purpose, while the identification of ticks and their blood meal was performed using conventional PCR. All amplified products were subsequently sequenced. The bacteria detected in the blood hosts included Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Candidatus Anaplasma boleense, and Wolbachia spp., which had not been previously reported in the country. Free-living and parasitic ticks on dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) and wild armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) were collected and identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Amblyomma spp. The species E. canis, A. platys, A. phagocytophilum, and Ca. A. boleense were detected in domestic dog ticks, and E. canis and A. platys were found for the first time in armadillos and free-living ticks. Blood feeding sources detected in free-living ticks were rodents, humans, armadillos and dogs. Results show a high diversity of tick-borne pathogens circulating among domestic and wild animals in the northeastern region of Paraguay.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

Mapa de Talentos : un procedimiento piloto de detección universal del talento en estudiantes del Paraguay

Este proyecto piloto tuvo como objetivo la detección de talentos intelectuales en estudiantes de Educación Escolar Básica y Educación Media de instituciones educativas del sector público, privado y subvencionado, buscando determinar procedimientos que puedan ser escalables a todo el país. Para ello, se realizó un estudio descriptivo-exploratorio. La muestra fue no probabilística y dirigida según criterios relevantes a la investigación, y estuvo conformada por 1.220 estudiantes de cinco ciudades del departamento Central y de la capital, Asunción, del Paraguay. Los participantes fueron evaluados con instrumentos que miden razonamiento abstracto: el Test de Matrices Progresivas Escala Avanzada de Raven, Matrices Test Adaptativo Informatizado (Matrices TAI) y Test de Inteligencia Breve de Reynolds, teniendo mayor facilidad de aplicación la Escala Avanzada de Raven. Además de su facilidad, esta escala es no verbal y tiene menor sesgo cultural, reduciendo posibles barreras lingüísticas y culturales para una evaluación más justa y precisa. Usando puntos de corte desde el percentil 90, se detectaron 68 estudiantes con potencial de altas capacidades que representan al 5,6% de la muestra. Este hallazgo apoya el uso de normas locales para detectar a estudiantes en el extremo superior de la distribución al realizar detección universal del talento.This pilot project aimed to detect intellectual ability in students from 7th to 12th grade in public, private and subsidized schools, to determine procedures that could be scalable throughout the country in a descriptive-exploratory study. The sample was non-probabilistic and purposeful according to criteria relevant to the study; it included 1220 students from five cities of the Central Department and the Capital, Asuncion, in Paraguay. Participants completed tests that measure abstract reasoning: the Raven Advanced Progressive Matrices Test, the Computerized Adaptive Matrices Test and the Reynolds Intelligence Screening Test, with the Raven Advanced Scale being easiest to implement. Besides its ease of utilization, this test is non-verbal and with less cultural bias, reducing possible linguistic and cultural barriers for fair and precise assessment. Using cut-off points in the 90th percentile, 68 students with High Ability were detected, representing 5.6% of the sample. This finding supports the use of local norms to detect students at the upper end of the distribution when conducting universal screening for giftedness and talent.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaAcuerdo Específico 02/2021 Mapa de Talentos 1.

Improvement strategies for visualizing solution sets in many-objective optimization problems

Corresponding author: Christian von Lücken ([email protected])In real-world multi-objective optimization, dealing with many objectives and a large number of solutions is a common challenge that complicates data visualization and analysis. This study aims to simplify decision-making by analyzing tools to better explore Pareto optimal solutions in many-objective scenarios, integrating clustering, filtering, and ranking with existing graphics techniques. The dynamic combination of these tools should reduce complexity and highlight significant patterns in the data set, allowing decision-makers to tailor the visualization to their specific needs and preferences. Central to the approach presented in this work is the innovative application of shape-based clustering to organize the solution set and the use of this clustering to define distinct types of filters. Additionally, ranking methods originally proposed to enhance search in many-objective evolutionary algorithms are used here to identify the best solutions based on predefined criteria in combination with other techniques. The efficacy of the proposed integrated approach was evaluated using an application developed with this aim and considering a five-objective problem as a case study. The analysis suggests that using these combined strategies aids interactive visual exploration, effectively reducing solution volume and improving data understanding, potentially facilitating decision-making tasks.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaPrograma Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología. Proyectos de investigación y desarroll

Informe de prácticas creativas : (resultado de visitas a escuelas con programas de altas capacidades en Kansas)

Informe sobre métodos de enseñanza elaborado en el marco de la estancia de investigación de la Dra. Alexandra Vuyk y su equipo de Aikumby Centro de Altas Capacidades y Creatividad en la Universidad Estatal de Emporia, Kansas, y en la Asociación Nacional para Niños Superdotados de Estados Unidos.Informe sobre los resultados de las visitas a escuelas con programas de altas capacidades de Kansas, Estados Unidos. El informe presenta planes de clases creativas e interdisciplinarias que incluyen desde investigar escenas de crimen en una clase denominada “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” hasta desviarse de un plan de clase establecido para perseguir una oportunidad espontánea de pensamiento creativo, basándose en los intereses de los estudiantes, para capitalizar momentos inesperados que fomentan el aprendizaje creativo, en el programa “Riesgos Bellos para Flexibilidad Docente”. Estas prácticas educativas, que se encuentran respaldadas por una variedad de referencias bibliográficas disponibles en el informe, son: 1. La clase "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" 2. La competencia entre colegios "Ciudad del Futuro" 3. Las prácticas de "Pensamiento Crítico" 4. La clase de Teoría del Conocimiento (TdC) del Bachillerato Internacional (IB): Big Data vs Small Data 5. El Aprendizaje Basado en Problemas para Diseño de Exposición (Problem-Based Learning o PBL) 6. La práctica “Riesgos Bellos para Flexibilidad Docente”Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaPrograma Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología. Financiamiento de estancias de investigació

Identification of magnetization inductance for six-phase induction machines driven by modulated predictive control in field weakening zone

Corresponding author: Magno Ayala ([email protected])Society Section: IEEE Power & Energy Society SectionFinite-control-set model predictive control (FCS-MPC) has achieved superiority in managing multiphase induction machines due to its quick dynamic response, control flexibility, and overall good performance. Its advantages, including simplicity, computational efficiency, compensation for system perturbations, and effective handling of multivariable problems, have made it a competitive alternative in various industrial applications. Nevertheless, FCS-MPC has some limitations. It is highly dependent on the accuracy of the predictive model’s parameters. Unfortunately, the estimation of magnetizing inductance, the most critical factor, especially in the weakening field region, has not been studied yet. Focusing on this gap, this article proposes a technique to estimate the magnetizing inductance in the field weakening zone for a six-phase asymmetrical induction machine driven by the FCS-MPC. Experimental tests have verified the effectiveness of the proposed method, considering stator currents and rotor speed tracking, as well as a reduction in the ( x−y ) currents.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaPrograma Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología. Proyectos de investigación y desarroll

Multi-objective evolutionary algorithms based operation sequence design for image segmentation

Image segmentation transforms an image into a more understandable representation by grouping pixels with common characteristics, making it easier to identify regions of interest. There is no optimal segmentation method for all cases, which makes it challenging to select the appropriate technique for each image. We propose using a Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm (MOEA) to generate sequences of operations adapted to specific applications. The evolutionary process was guided by objective functions based on Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) Curve analysis, using maximization of sensitivity and specificity. The experiments were performed with three types of images: cells (type A, B, C, and D), melanoma images (benign and malignant), and retinal ophthalmoscopic images. The results show that the algorithm achieves a sensitivity (TPR) and specificity (TNR) of up to 1.0 in the segmentation of images of type A and D cells, a sensitivity of 1.0 and specificity of 0.9765 in the segmentation of images of benign melanoma, a sensitivity of 0.9857 and specificity of 0.9825 in the segmentation of malignant melanoma images, and sensitivity of 0.8931 and specificity of 0.9104 in the extraction of retinal veins in ophthalmoscopic images.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaPrograma Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología. Proyectos de investigación y desarroll

Cantos de la noche

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