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Abstract Musca domestica L. is a cosmopolitan pest usually reaching high population levels, causing substantial economic losses and also acting as a vector for many diseases. The use of entomopathogenic fungi as a replacement of the chemical insecticides is a possibility already studied. In this study, we isolated three strains of Beauveria bassiana from naturally infected M. domestica individuals and tested their potentiality to act as a biological control agent. The finding of naturally occurring entomopathogenic fungal infections indicates that these fungi are well-adapted to the local environment and can survive and thrive under natural conditions, making them promising candidates for biological pest management.

Abstract Fungi are the most important entomopathogens in the natural regulation of insect populations. They have a wide distribution and significant advantages as biological control agents. Prospecting for new native strains of entomopathogenic fungi in the Pampas region has not yet been carried out. The main objectives of this study were isolating and identifying strains of different species of entomopathogenic fungi that naturally infect grasshopper species in the Pampas region and determining, through laboratory tests, their virulence and pathogenicity on nymphs of the pest grasshopper Dichroplus maculipennis. Furthermore, whether the phylogenetic relationships between Beauveria bassiana isolates would be associated with virulence and pathogenicity or geographical distribution. Thirty-four isolates of entomopathogenic fungi were obtained from different grasshopper species corresponding to eleven sites in three counties in the center of Buenos Aires province. There were 31 isolates of B. bassiana and 3 of Metarhizium genus. These isolates scored 66.6% (LPSc 1443) and 100% (LPSc 1441, LPSc 1445, and LPSc 1476) of mortality against third-instar nymphs of D. maculipennis, and these last cause death at 4.86 ± 0.20, 4.80 ± 0.17 and 5 ± 0.15 MST days, respectively. An association between phylogenetic relationships and geographical distances in B. bassiana was found.

Objetivo: Apresentar um conjunto de competências para empreendedores de healthtechs. Método: É uma pesquisa de natureza aplicada, com abordagem qualitativa e objetivos exploratórios. O método empregado foi o Delphi. O estudo contou com a participação de 22 especialistas, os quais contribuíram para compreender a temática investigada. Principais Resultados: Os resultados apresentam 22 competências para empreendedores das healthtechs, categorizadas em quatro grupos: competências para atuar na saúde, competências para atuar em startups, competências para empreender na saúde e competências para inovar na saúde. Relevância / Originalidade: Este estudo apresenta uma abordagem integrada das competências no campo da saúde, inovação e startups. Outra contribuição original é o uso do método Delphi para estudar competências em healthtechs. Contribuições Teóricas / Metodológicas: Este estudo apresenta uma sistematização de competências essenciais para healthtechs, avançando em relação aos estudos anteriores, pois aborda inovação, saúde e startups de forma integrada.

This Crossing Boundaries stems from two events: the recent STS-Italia conference (Bologna, June 2023) and the 4S/ESOCITE conference (Cholula, December 2022). Both events dedicated a space for reflecting on Bruno Latour’s intellectual legacy, inviting some of the scholars who had the chance and the privilege to work with him. The text opens with a reflection by Madeleine Akrich on her two-decade experience working alongside Latour and on the multifaceted nature of his contributions to sociology, anthropology, and philosophy. The text continues with a contribution by Huub Dijstelbloem, who explores Latour’s magmatic thinking, emphasizing the transformative power of his ideas. Annalisa Pelizza traces two key associations in Bruno Latour’s intellectual trajectory. The first one traces back to Latour’s early engagement with the semiotics of the “École de Paris” and Greimas’ theory of enunciation, emphasizing the local context of the French semiotic debate. The second association delves into Latour’s connection with technofeminism and Donna Haraway’s material-semiotics, highlighting a global dialogue initiated in the late 1980s. Finally, Paolo Landri underlines the transformative potential of Latour’s vocabulary in the context of education, underlying the interdisciplinary connections fostered by following Latour.

Commentary to the Lecture “Moving the immovable: Climate change and the multiple tensions between mobility and immobility”, by Huub Dijstelbloem (this issue).

This editorial by the board of STS Italia (The Italian Society for Social Studies of Science and Technology) introduces a Special Section of the Journal collecting a set of contributions to the IX STS Italia Conference, held in June 2023. The Special Section features an invited Lecture by Huub Dijstelbloem followed by a short commentary by Annalisa Pelizza. In addition, the Section includes the Crossing Boundaries “Drawing Bruno Together” and the Scenario “Bruno Latour and Artificial Intelligence” dedicated to Bruno Latour and both written by long-term colleagues, friends and exegetes of his work.

Abstract Background The purpose of the present review was to summarize the main literature contribution on the relationship between borderline personality disorder (BPD) and early psychosis. While retracing the historical path of the term “borderline”, specific attention was paid to psychotic and psychotic-like symptoms in BPD. Its relationship with At Risk Mental State was evaluated, as well. Methods This search was conducted on PUBMED/MEDLINE and PsycInfo, looking for “Borderline personality disorder, First Episode Psychosis, Early Psychosis, Ultra-High Risk AND/OR Clinical High Risk” for psychosis. Results Eight pertinent papers were identified on this topic. Their main findings were then discussed. The term “borderline” has undergone different changes in meaning and use, despite always referring to states considered on the fence between neurosis and psychosis. However, considering the history of psychopathology and its relationship with diagnostic manuals, little attention has been given to its psychotic features. Being those symptoms highly burdensome, this neglect has often led to misdiagnosis and under-treatment. Conclusions Psychotic symptoms in BPD can be severe and distressing. Nonetheless they can be easily neglected, and when found they challenge clinicians in defining a differential diagnosis to distinguish between BPD and Psychosis Spectrum Disorders. Given specific needs and interventions for these different conditions, a dimensional, rather than categorical, approach should be considered, as well as specific care pathways and monitoring should be advised.

Se presentan los resultados del estudio realizado sobre dos artefactos elaborados sobre piedras bezoares procedentes del sur del valle de Punilla (Sierras de Córdoba, Argentina). Aun cuando los artefactos fueron recolectados asistemáticamente en sitios asignables al Período Prehispánico Tardío (~1220-330 cal. AP), se plantea que es posible obtener datos valiosos de estos objetos a una escala temporal y espacial amplia, principalmente porque se trata de elementos fuertemente conectados con aspectos simbólicos de las sociedades del pasado, cuya recuperación es excepcional en las excavaciones modernas. Los materiales fueron estudiados desde un enfoque tecno-morfológico, explorando a partir de la bibliografía las prácticas en las que pudieron ser utilizados. Uno de los artefactos fue elaborado a partir de un bezoar de morfología esférica, con un surco perimetral que rodea toda la circunferencia de la pieza, posiblemente para asegurar su atadura a un collar, vestimenta u otro tipo de artefacto compuesto. El segundo ejemplar consiste en un fragmento cuya cara exterior fue decorada con incisiones lineales largas y profundas, de sección plana, irradiadas en abanico desde un polo. Toda la pieza exhibe rastros de pintura roja. Es probable que el artefacto emule a moluscos asociados con el mundo ceremonial andino. Se propone que las piedras bezoares analizadas son gastrolitos producidos por cérvidos y/o camélidos, que habrían sido transformados en artefactos para incrementar su relevancia simbólica y ser usados en prácticas rituales o mágico-terapéuticas.

El objetivo de este estudio fue describir las percepciones acerca de la autoconfianza en el deporte. Participaron 30 jugadores (50% mujeres) de voleibol federado de un club de Mar del Plata, Argentina, de entre 14 y 18 años. Se utilizó una encuesta abierta y el procedimiento de análisis de la Teoría Fundamentada. Las categorías emergidas del análisis para describir la autoconfianza fueron: la creencia en uno mismo para el logro de objetivos; el ambiente social, fundamentalmente compañeros y entrenadores; y el autodiálogo positivo y rutinas de pre-ejecución, como estrategias más utilizadas para el aumento de la autoconfianza. Este trabajo constituye un insumo para el trabajo de profesionales del deporte en la búsqueda del bienestar y rendimiento de los deportistas jóvenes.

Introduction Hedonic deficits have been extensively studied in schizophrenia, but little is known about their association with suicidal ideation in early psychosis. Along the clinical staging of psychosis, also Ultra-High Risk (UHR) individuals are characterized by hedonic deficits, which are currently considered as putative predictors of both psychosis conversion and poor social/role functioning. Objectives The aim of this research was to examine the relationship between anhedonia and suicidal thoughts across a 2-year follow-up period in people with First Episode Psychosis (FEP) and at Ultra High Risk (UHR) of psychosis. Methods Ninty-six UHR and 146 FEP, aged 13–35 years, completed the Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States (CAARMS) and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). The BDI-II “Anhedonia” subscale score to assess anhedonia and the CAARMS “Depression” item 7.2 subscore to measure depression were used across the 2 years of follow-up. Hierarchical regression analyses were performed. Results No difference in anhedonia scores between FEP and UHR individuals was found. In the FEP group, a significant enduring association between anhedonia and suicidal ideation was found at baseline and across the follow-up, independent of clinical depression. In the UHR subgroup, the enduring relationship between anhedonia and suicidal thoughts were not completely independent from depression severity. Conclusions Anhedonia is relevant in predicting suicidal ideation in early psychosis. Specific pharmacological and/or psychosocial interventions on anhedonia within specialized EIP program could reduce suicide risk overtime. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Introduction Depression is common in schizophrenia and is correlated with suicide risk and poor long-term outcomes. However, the presence of depressive symptoms is often underestimated in both research and treatment, particularly at the illness onset. Objectives The goals of this study were: (a) to longitudinally observe anxious-depressive symptom levels in patients with First Episode Schizophrenia (FES) during a 24 months of follow-up period, and (b) to examine their associations with other psychopathology and the intervention patients received in an “Early Intervention in Psychosis” (EIP) program during the follow-up period. Methods The Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) and the Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) were completed by 159 FES patients both at baseline and across the follow-up. Data were analyzed by linear regression analysis and Spearman’s coefficients. Results Anxious-depressive symptoms had significant longitudinal associations with GAF deterioration and PANSS “Positive Symptoms”, “Negative Symptoms” and “Disorganization” subscores. During the follow-up period, FES participants significantly improved the level of anxious-depressive symptoms. This was significantly associated with the number of case management and individual psychotherapy meetings the patient engaged in, as well as with lower antipsychotic doses prescribed during the follow-up period. Conclusions In conclusion, anxious-depressive symptoms are prominent in FES and at the initial entry into EIP programs. Anxious-depressive symptom severity tends to diminish overtime, especially with the provision of specialized EIP treatments. However, since we did not have a control population studied in parallel, we cannot say whether these results are specific to the protocols of EIP programs or just to the intensity of engagement in care. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Introduction The prognostic prediction of outcomes in individuals at clinical high-risk for psychosis (CHR-P) is still a significant clinical challenge. Among multiple baseline variables of risk calculator models, the role of ongoing pharmacological medications has been partially neglected, despite meta-analytical evidence of higher risk of psychosis transition associated with baseline prescription exposure to antipsychotics (AP) in CHR-P individuals. In particular, baseline AP exposure in CHR-P individuals may be considered as a functional equivalent of the psychometric transition to psychosis, as already postulated in the original ‘Ultra High-Risk’ model. Objectives The main aim of the current study was to test the hypothesis that ongoing AP need at baseline indexes a subgroup of CHR-P individuals with more severe psychopathology and worse prognostic trajectories along a 1-year follow-up period. Methods This research was settled within the ‘Parma At-Risk Mental States’ program. Baseline and 1-year follow-up assessment included the Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF). CHR-P individuals who were taking AP medications at entry were included in the CHR-P-AP+ subgroup. The remaining participants were grouped as CHR-P-AP-. The acquisition of drug and outcome information was collected both at baseline and across the follow-up period. Finally, logistic regression analyses with dichotomized 1-year outcome parameters (previously showing statistically significant differences in inter-group comparisons) as dependent measures and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics as independent variables were also performed. Results Hundred and seventy-eight CHR-P individuals (aged 12–25 years) were enrolled (91 CHR-P-AP+, 87 CHR-P-AP-). Compared to CHR-P AP-, CHR-P AP+ individuals had older age, greater baseline PANSS ‘Positive Symptoms’ and ‘Negative Symptoms’ factor subscores and a lower GAF score. At the end of our follow-up, CHR-P-AP+ subjects showed higher rates of psychosis transition, new hospitalizations and urgent/non-planned visits compared to CHRP- AP- individuals. Conclusions The current study suggests that AP need is a significant prognostic variable in cohorts of CHR-P individuals and should be included in the current risk calculators. In particular, the results of this study conducted in a realworld clinical setting indicate that the rate of CHR-P individuals who were already exposed to AP at the time of CHR-P status ascription was higher than those reported in recent meta-analyses on this topic. Moreover, our findings confirm that baseline AP prescription appears to increase psychotic transition risk. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Rachiplusia nu (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is the main soybean plague in Argentina. The main strategy employed to control this pest is chemical control, applying different chemical groups regardless of their harmful effects on the environment and human health. Different biological products using entomopathogenic fungi have been developed and are commercially available to control different insect pests worldwide. The objective of this work was to develop and apply, under field conditions, different fungal formulations using entomopathogenic fungi to control R. nu larvae. The mortality percentages in bioassays of R. nu larvae treated with different colonies of fungal entomopathogens ranged between 86.6 ± 8.4% for Beauveria bassiana (LPSc 1098) and 56.6 ± 4.2% for Metarhizium anisopliae (LPSc 907). Under laboratory conditions using fungal formulations of B. bassiana, the formulation 4 (LPSc 1086) exhibited the highest mortality percentage (100%), followed by formulation 5 (LPSc 1098), 97 ± 1.3%. Under field conditions, larval mortalities were 82.4 ± 5.56% for formulation F4 and 61.8 ± 7.5% for formulation F5. The results obtained in this work indicate that although a greater number of tests under field conditions with the fungal formulation F4 are necessary, the results obtained in this work allow speculating that it is possible to use this fungal formulation under field conditions to control R. nu.

PURPOSE: Facing the research gap of entrepreneurial learning by self-expatriated technology-based entrepreneurs, the purpose of this research is to explore those entrepreneurs’ beliefs and experiences across expatriation to identify the enhancement of their competencies. METHODOLOGY: Within a qualitative and exploratory multiple case theory-building approach, data was collected from twelve technology entrepreneurs from Brazil, Mexico, Germany, and Israel that went to the following destination countries: Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Germany, Ireland, Turkey, and the Netherlands. With interview data as the primary source, the data analysis rests on a qualitative content analysis. FINDINGS: Data allows structuring techpreneurs’ experience of expatriation along the following steps: (a) arrival in the destination country and initial process of socialization, (b) engaging in activities to get familiar with the culture of the destination country, (c) the gradual comprehensive understanding of the new context, and (d) comparisons between the home and destination country. Expatriation had an evident impact on the technology-based entrepreneurs that materializes in three groups of competencies: entrepreneurial competencies, knowledge and innovative competencies, and international competencies. Entrepreneurial competencies relate to relational and behavioral skills and the learning of doing business in different contexts. Concerning knowledge and innovative competencies, creativity, learning new techniques and international innovation environment stand at the fore. Finally, international competencies relate to the acceptance of different cultures (multicultural learning and perception of cultural differences), developing a sense of an international community and an international innovation culture. IMPLICATIONS: This study evidenced the influence of expatriation experiences on the training of skills of technology-based entrepreneurs, in a specific approach to entrepreneurial, innovative, and intercultural competencies. The research portrays self-expatriation as an opportunity for technology-based entrepreneurs to develop different competencies being helpful to innovate, to manage business and to operate in international markets. Universities and innovators may recognize their discretion to develop programs for people like former students who want to self-expatriate. In the same vein, government can design policy to attract self-expatriate in innovations hubs, considering that local inhabitants can benefit from the cultural exchange. ORIGINALITY AND VALUE: This study contributes to better understanding the influence of self-expatriation experiences on the development of skills of technology-based entrepreneurs. Compared to previous studies, it advances research through providing a wider range of learning from expatriation experiences beyond the effect of internationalization on market knowledge and cultural aspects. Furthermore, this study focuses the process, not the results of self-expatriation to understand entrepreneurs’ learning.

Control measures of stored grain pests include the excessive utilization of chemical insecticides that generate negative environmental impact. Current trends in integrated pest management are oriented towards the preservation of the environment using natural biopesticides, among these products arise entomopathogenic fungi. This study aimed to test the efficacy of a native strain of Beauveria bassiana to control two main stored grain pests such as Sitophilus oryzae and Rhyzopertha dominica and also evaluate the persistence of the fungus on wheat grains. The B. bassiana strain controlled 89%±0.07 of R. dominica adults and 80% ±0.14 of S. oryzae. The survival analysis showed that MST was 4.27 ±0.19 days for R. dominica adults and 4.27 ±0.20 days for S. oryzae. Furthermore, results of long rank test for the comparison of the Kaplan-Meier curves did not present significant differences between the survival of both stored grain pests. Dual choice tests demonstrated that B. bassiana LPSc1227 presented a repellent action against both stored grain pests. The seed persistence of conidia was 100% in treated seeds after 45 days. Further research will contribute to elucidate more insecticidal features of the B. bassiana LPSc 1227 strain against S. oryzae and R. dominica, two main stored grain insect pests. Highlights: • bassiana presented insecticidal activity against R. dominica and S. oryzae. • bassiana demonstrated a repellent action against both stored grain pests. • bassiana was able to persist on the surface of wheat grains after 45 days storage.