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Here, a comprehensive cytogenetic analysis of three species of tenebrionid beetles: Alphitobius diaperinus, Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas morio, is presented. This paper also contains a review of the cytogenetic information for each species and adds new data. The male karyotype of both T. molitor and Z. morio is 2n = 18 + Xyp, with large heterochromatic blocks in the pericentromeric regions of all chromosomes. The male A. diaperinus karyotype is 2n = 18 + X0, also with heterochromatic pericentromeric regions in all chromosomes. The location of the nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) differs in each species: in A. diaperinus, it is located on the smallest pair of autosomes, while in T. molitor, it is on two pairs of autosomes and both sex chromosomes. In contrast, it is exclusively located on the X chromosome in Z. morio. Telomere analysis revealed that all species have TCAGG repeats in their telomeres, but lack the canonical TTAGG insect telomeric motif. In addition, a study of the distribution of satellite DNA and composition revealed that each species has a main satellite DNA family forming the pericentromeric heterochromatin. Fluorescence in situ hybridization of each of these satellites did not produce hybridization signal in the other two species, indicating a divergence in repetitive DNA composition among them. This study adds to the understanding of chromosomal organization, heterochromatin distribution and repetitive DNA dynamics in tenebrionid beetles and sheds light on their cytogenetic diversity and evolutionary significance.

Digital innovations provide novel opportunities to individualize a person’s care to best match their lifestyle needs and circumstances and to support them as they live their daily lives with diabetes. These innovations also serve to provide actionable data and insights for the care team giving them a “Webb telescope-like” view into their individual self-management journey, allowing them to see what cannot be seen during infrequent and limited office visits, thereby facilitating collaboration and communication to optimize the care plan on a timely basis. Technology advances are enabling diabetes care to transition from episodic, synchronous, primarily in-person care to include synchronous virtual care options and to continuous, on-demand, data-informed, asynchronous digital care better matching the demands of living with a relentless 24/7 chronic condition. In this paper we will discuss the critical elements and considerations in designing and implementing successful diabetes digital health tools in clinical practice.

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The production planning problem in the Pinus radiata sawmill industry revolves around determining how to cut a set of logs of different diameters to obtain pieces with a rectangular base, typically of the same length as the original log. The primary objective is often to maximize the volumetric yield or the ratio between the total volume of the produced pieces and the available volume of the logs. Given the scarcity of timber forests, small and medium-sized (SME) sawmills must optimize their operations to maximize the volumetric yield of logs, usually procured from third parties and may vary in quality and dimensions. In this context, the absence of decision support tools directly contributes to inefficient raw material utilization, consequently impacting the business’s profit. This study introduces a multi-objective mixed-integer linear programming model incorporating log availability and product demand as input parameters. The objective functions aim to minimize the total volumetric loss of utilized logs and the surplus quantity associated with products exceeding demand. The model integrates cutting patterns pre-determined for each log diameter as an additional input. The Cutlog© software was used to identify all the optimal cutting patterns. The $\varepsilon $ -constraint method, implemented in the CPLEX© solver, was employed to solve the model. The model was validated using representative instances designed to emulate the challenges faced by SME sawmills. Real industry data, surveys, and commercial records from SME sawmills in southern Chile were utilized. The results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed model in addressing the multi-objective challenges encountered by these businesses. The model successfully identifies multiple solutions on the Pareto frontier, offering valuable insights for decision-making.

Abstract I discuss how the factorization of the invariant trace used to define Chern-Simons branes in a space-time with a Chern-Simons action for a space-time group introduces new relationships between the coupling constants of the extended objects of diverse dimensions, and an enhanced gauge invariance for a suitable choice of these coupling constants, owing to an extension of the Inflow mechanism. I also comment on the possible relevance of these models in fundamental physics.

In this study, we report the complete mitochondrial genome or mitogenome of the blister beetle Hycleus scutellatus, one endemic species from the Iberian Peninsula. The mitogenome was 16,035 base pairs in length, with an A + T content of 71.7%. It has 37 genes including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes and 2 ribosomal RNA genes. To analyze the evolutionary position of H. scutellatus, we constructed a phylogenetic tree using all available mitogenomes from species of the family Meloidae. The results show that Hycleus species are very close to the genus Mylabris. We present here the mitogenome of H. scutellatus as a new resource to elucidate the phylogenetic relations among the Meloidea family, being this source very useful for future evolutionary analyses of blister beetles.

This study focused on analyzing the distribution of microsatellites in holocentric chromosomes of the Triatominae subfamily, insect vectors of Chagas disease. We employed a non-denaturing FISH technique to determine the chromosomal distribution of sixteen microsatellites across twenty-five triatomine species, involving five genera from the two principal tribes: Triatomini and Rhodniini. Three main hybridization patterns were identified: strong signals in specific chromosomal regions, dispersed signals dependent on microsatellite abundance and the absence of signals in certain chromosomal regions or entire chromosomes. Significant variations in hybridization patterns were observed between Rhodniini and Triatomini species. Rhodniini species displayed weak and scattered hybridization signals, indicating a low abundance of microsatellites in their genomes. In contrast, Triatomini species exhibited diverse and abundant hybridization patterns, suggesting that microsatellites are a significant repetitive component in their genomes. One particularly interesting finding was the high abundance of GATA repeats, and to a lesser extent AG repeats, in the Y chromosome of all analyzed Triatomini species. In contrast, the Y chromosome of Rhodniini species did not show enrichment in GATA and AG repeats. This suggests that the richness of GATA repeats on the Y chromosome likely represents an ancestral trait specific to the Triatomini tribe. Furthermore, this information can be used to elucidate the evolutionary relationships between Triatomini and other groups of reduviids, contributing to the understanding of the subfamily’s origin. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of the composition and distribution of microsatellites within Triatominae genomes, shedding light on their significance in the evolutionary processes of these species.

La actividad bufalina ha ido en aumento en los últimos años, mostrando cada vez más productores enfocados al sistema de producción de esta especie en América Latina. El objetivo de esta revisión fue recopilar conocimientos existentes en la literatura sobre el manejo y las biotecnologías reproductivas disponibles para los machos y las hembras de la especie Bubalus bubalis. La información fue seleccionada de libros y artículos científicos en bases de datos académicas y Google Scholar, durante un periodo de cinco meses (marzo-julio 2020). Se abarcaron los temas de manejo reproductivo de la hembra, el macho y las biotecnologías aplicadas a la especie. Se determinó que la eficiencia productiva de los búfalos está fuertemente relacionada con el manejo a nivel nutricional, reproductivo y de bienestar animal, asimismo de los factores climáticos en el que se desarrollan. Se evidenciaron avances de las biotecnologías aplicadas a la reproducción bufalina.

The red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, is the most harmful species among those pests affecting palm trees. Its impact causes important economic losses around the World. Nevertheless, the genetic information of Rh. ferrugineus is very scarce. Last year, the first genome assembly was published including a rough description of its repeatome. However, no information has been added about one of the main components of repeated DNA, the satellite DNA. Herein, we presented the characterization of the satellitome of this important species that includes 112 satellite DNA families, the largest number in an insect genome. These satellite DNA families made up around 25% of the genome while the most abundant family, RferSat01-169, alone represented 20.4%. Chromosomal location of most abundant satellite DNA families performed by fluorescence in situ hybridization showed that all of them are dispersed in the euchromatin on all chromosomes but some of them are also specifically accumulated either on the pericentromeric heterochromatic regions of all chromosomes or on specific chromosomes. Finally, the transcription of satellitome families was analyzed through Rh. ferrugineus development. It was found that 55 out of 112 satellite DNA families showed transcription, some families seemed to be transcribed across all stages while a few appeared to be stage-specific, indicating a possible role of those satellite DNA sequences in the development of this species.

Actions for extended objects based on Transgression and Chern-Simons forms for space-time groups and supergroups provide a gauge theoretic framework in which to embed previously studied String and Brane actions, extending them in interesting ways that may be useful in a future non perturbative formulation of String Theory. In this Letter I investigate aspects of the actions of these theories, including equations of motion and boundary conditions, gauge and space-time symmetries, and Dirac quantization of tensions. This theoretical framework is shown to include in certain limit and for a suitable gauge group the standard Bosonic String Theory.

Objetivos: evaluar la efectividad del cribado de pulso irregular por el farmacéutico comunitario mediante el pilotaje de una metodología y procedimiento para una campaña de detección de pulso irregular en las farmacias comunitarias españolas. Métodos: estudio descriptivo transversal realizado por farmacéuticos comunitarios socios de SEFAC entre los días 24 a 29 de noviembre de 2016 y los días 5 a 11 de junio de 2017. Criterios de inclusión: usuarios ≥40 años, sin FA o con FA sin tratamiento anticoagulante. Variables principales: pulso (latidos/minuto) y CHA2DS2 vascular. Resultados: se realizaron 789 mediciones de pulso en ambas campañas, de las cuales se encontró que 41 (5,2 %) participantes presentaban un pulso irregular. 35 (4,3 %) fueron derivados a sus médicos de familia, confirmándose 12 (1,5%) diagnósticos nuevos de FA e iniciando 7 (0,9 %) de ellos tratamiento anticoagulante. Más del 80 % de los participantes no presentaba ningún síntoma clínico de FA y un 41,9 % padecía HTA. El número de pacientes con CHA2DS2 vascular ≥2 y pulso irregular fue de 17 (3,9 %), de los cuales 10 (58,8 %) estaban sin tratamiento; 5 (29,4 %) tenían tratamiento antiagregante y 2 (11,8 %) tratamiento anticoagulante. Conclusiones: tanto el elevado número de pacientes con FA diagnosticada y sin tratamiento como el número apreciable de pacientes con pulso irregular y sospecha de FA detectados demuestran la capacidad y eficacia de la farmacia comunitaria en la realización del cribado del pulso irregular contribuyendo así a la detección de nuevos casos de FA.

The age and growth rate of the giant electric ray, Narcine entemedor, was estimated using growth bands deposited in the vertebral centra of 245 specimens. Differences in size and age distribution were found between the sexes, a pattern that suggests the annual deposition of band pairs, possibly occurring in April. Multimodel inference and back-calculation were performed to three age data sets of females considering their reproductive cycle and time of capture, among which the von Bertalanffy growth function was found to be the most appropriate (L∞ = 81.87 cm TL, k = 0.17 year−1). Our research supports the idea that age can be determined via biological features such as birth date and growth band periodicity. We concluded that N. entemedor is of a moderate body size, moderate longevity and is a fast-growing elasmobranch species.

Satellite DNAs are the major repetitive DNA components in eukaryotic genomes. Although satellite DNA has long been called "parasite DNA" there is substantial evidence that it could be associated with some functions of chromosome biology. Ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae) are one of the largest and most important groups of beetles. Many ladybirds are of economic interest as biological control agents because they eat some agricultural pests such as aphids and scale insects. However, other species are phytophagous and can damage crops. Despite the ecological importance of the latter group there are no studies on their satellite DNA. A satellite DNA family was isolated and characterized in the ladybird Henosepilachna argus. This satellite DNA is organized in tandem repeats of 658 bp and is A + T rich (67.3%). The recorded high sequence conservation of the monomers together with the detection of putative gene conversion processes indicate concerted evolution. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed that this satellite DNA is transcribed and in situ hybridization its location in the subtelomeric regions of all chromosomes except the long arm of the X chromosome. The presence of this satellite DNA in other species of the genus Henosepilachna and Epilachna was also tested using PCR. The results indicate that this satellite DNA sequence is so far specific to H. argus.

Abstract Background The analysis of the chromosomal and genome evolution in organisms with holocentric chromosomes is restricted by the lack of primary constriction or centromere. An interesting group is the hemipteran subfamily Triatominae, vectors of Chagas disease, which affects around 6 to 7 million people worldwide. This group exhibits extensive variability in the number and chromosomal location of repeated sequences such as heterochromatin and ribosomal genes. This paper tries to reveal the significant differences of the repeated sequences among Triatoma species through the use of genomic DNA probes. Methods We analysed the chromosomal distribution and evolution of repeated sequences in Triatoma species by genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) using genomic DNA probes from two North American Triatoma species. These genomic probes were hybridized both on their own chromosomes and on other Triatoma species from North and South America, with different amounts and chromosome location of C-heterochromatin. The results were compared with those previously described using South American Triatoma genomic probes. Results We observed two chromosomal hybridization patterns: (i) very intense hybridization signals concentrated on specific chromosomal regions or particular chromosomes; and (ii) lower intensity hybridization signals dispersed along all chromosomes. Self-GISH on T. rubrofasciata and T. dimidiata chromosomes presented strong hybridization signals on all C-heterochromatin regions. However, when we perform genomic cross-hybridizations, only strong signals are detected on the Y chromosome, leaving the C-heterochromatic autosomal regions unmarked. Conclusions We confirm that repeated DNA of the Y chromosome is shared among Triatoma species and probably represents an ancestral character of the Triatomini tribe. On the contrary, autosomal heterochromatic regions are constituted by species-specific DNA repeats, most probably satDNA families, suggesting that Triatoma speciation involved the amplification of diverse types of autosomal repeats. Molecular characterization of principal repetitive DNAs seems to be an appropriate approach to infer evolutionary relationships in triatomines.

Meloidae are commonly known as blister beetles, so called for the secretion of cantharidin, a toxic substance that causes irritation and blistering. There has been a recent increase in the interest of the cantharidin anticancer potential of this insect group. Cytogenetic and molecular data in this group are scarce. In this study, we performed a karyotype analysis of Hycleus scutellatus, an endemic species of the Iberian Peninsula. We determined its chromosome number, 2n = 20, as well as the presence of the X and Y sex chromosomes. In addition to a karyotype analysis, we carried out DAPI staining. By fluorescence in situ hybridization we mapped the rDNA clusters on 12 different chromosomes. Compared to others, this species shows an unusually high number of chromosomes carrying rDNA. This is one of the highest numbers of rDNA sites found in the Polyphaga suborder (Coleoptera). Additionally, we isolated a satellite DNA family (Hyscu-H), which was located within the pericentromeric regions of all chromosomes, including the sex chromosomes. The results suggest that Hyscu-H is likely to be one of the most abundant satellite DNA repeats in H. scutellatus.

Next-generation sequencing data analysis on Triatoma infestans Klug, 1834 (Heteroptera, Cimicomorpha, Reduviidae) revealed the presence of the ancestral insect (TTAGG)n telomeric motif in its genome. Fluorescence in situ hybridization confirms that chromosomes bear this telomeric sequence in their chromosomal ends. Furthermore, motif amount estimation was about 0.03% of the total genome, so that the average telomere length in each chromosomal end is almost 18 kb long. We also detected the presence of (TTAGG)n telomeric repeat in mitotic and meiotic chromosomes in other three species of Triatominae: Triatoma dimidiata Latreille, 1811, Dipetalogaster maxima Uhler, 1894, and Rhodnius prolixus Ståhl, 1859. This is the first report of the (TTAGG)n telomeric repeat in the infraorder Cimicomorpha, contradicting the currently accepted hypothesis that evolutionarily recent heteropterans lack this ancestral insect telomeric sequence.

The ladybird Henosepilachna argus Geoffroy, 1762 has been cytogenetically studied. In addition we have conducted a review of chromosome numbers and the chromosomal system of sex determination available in the literature in species belonging to the genus Henosepilachna and in its closely related genus Epilachna. Chromosome number of H. argus was 2n=18, including the sex chromosome pair, a common diploid chromosome number within the tribe Epilachnini. The study of prophase I meiotic chromosomes showed the typical Xyp “parachute” bivalent as in the majority of species of Coccinellidae. C-banding and fluorescent staining with AT-specific DAPI fluorochrome dye have been carried out for the first time in H. argus. C-banding technique revealed that heterochromatic blocks are pericentromerically located and DAPI staining showed that this heterochromatin is AT rich. Fluorescence in situ hybridizations using rDNA and the telomeric TTAGG sequence as probes have been carried out. FISH using rDNA showed that the nucleolar organizing region is located on the short arm of the X chromosome. FISH with the telomeric sequence revealed that in this species telomeres of chromosomes are composed of the pentanucleotide TTAGG repeats. This is the first study on the telomeric sequences in Coccinellidae.

Triatoma infestans is the most important Chagas disease vector in South America. Two main evolutionary lineages, named Andean and non-Andean, have been recognized by geographical distribution, phenetic and genetic characteristics. One of the main differences is the genomic size, varying over 30% in their haploid DNA content. Here we realize a genome wide analysis to compare the repetitive genome fraction (repeatome) between both lineages in order to identify the main repetitive DNA changes occurred during T. infestans differentiation process. RepeatExplorer analysis using Illumina reads showed that both lineages exhibit the same amount of non-repeat sequences, and that satellite DNA is by far the major component of repetitive DNA and the main responsible for the genome size differentiation between both lineages. We characterize 42 satellite DNA families, which are virtually all present in both lineages but with different amount in each lineage. Furthermore, chromosomal location of satellite DNA by fluorescence in situ hybridization showed that genomic variations in T. infestans are mainly due to satellite DNA families located on the heterochromatic regions. The results also show that many satDNA families are located on the euchromatic regions of the chromosomes.

Ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae) are one of the largest groups of beetles. Among them, some species are of economic interest since they can act as a biological control for some agricultural pests whereas other species are phytophagous and can damage crops. Chnootriba argus (Coccinellidae, Epilachnini) has large heterochromatic pericentromeric blocks on all chromosomes, including both sexual chromosomes. Classical digestion of total genomic DNA using restriction endonucleases failed to find the satellite DNA located on these heterochromatic regions. Cloning of C0t-1 DNA resulted in the isolation of a repetitive DNA with a repeat unit of six base pairs, TTAAAA. The amount of TTAAAA repeat in the C. argus genome was about 20%. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis and digestion of chromosomes with the endonuclease Tru9I revealed that this repetitive DNA could be considered as the putative pericentromeric satellite DNA (satDNA) in this species. The presence of this satellite DNA was tested in other species of the tribe Epilachnini and it is also present in Epilachna paenulata. In both species, the TTAAAA repeat seems to be the main satellite DNA and it is located on the pericentromeric region on all chromosomes. The size of this satDNA, which has only six base pairs is unusual in Coleoptera satellite DNAs, where satDNAs usually have repeat units of a much larger size. Southern hybridization and FISH proved that this satDNA is conserved in some Epilachnini species but not in others. This result is in concordance with the controversial phylogenetic relationships among the genera of the tribe Epilachnini, where the limits between genera are unclear.

En el 2010, hemos tenido una sobrecarga de actividades conmemorativas en distintos ámbitos. No se trata solamente, como podría sospecharse, de consabidos rituales a la bandera, desfiles militares y ciclos de conferencias, sino también de calculados y masivos dispositivos de celebración en distintos lugares de la geografía nacional, series radiales y televisivas —incluidos varios dramatizados—, coleccionestemáticas en revistas y periódicos para el gran público, declaratorias, exposiciones, encuentros locales, regionales, nacionales y binacionales, conversatorios disciplinares, gremiales y de género, y un interminable etcétera que proviene por igual de los despachos ministeriales, los grandesmedios de comunicación y los centros académicos del país.Doscientos años después, estos rituales canalizan viejos y nuevos sentidos, lo cual crea otras motivaciones e intenta restaurar simbólicamente un conjunto de significaciones acerca del ethos de la nación.

En el 2010, hemos tenido una sobrecarga de actividades conmemorativas en distintos ámbitos. No se trata solamente, como podría sospecharse, de consabidos rituales a la bandera, desfiles militares y ciclos de conferencias, sino también de calculados y masivos dispositivos de celebración en distintos lugares de la geografía nacional, series radiales y televisivas —incluidos varios dramatizados—, coleccionestemáticas en revistas y periódicos para el gran público, declaratorias, exposiciones, encuentros locales, regionales, nacionales y binacionales, conversatorios disciplinares, gremiales y de género, y un interminable etcétera que proviene por igual de los despachos ministeriales, los grandesmedios de comunicación y los centros académicos del país. Doscientos años después, estos rituales canalizan viejos y nuevos sentidos, lo cual crea otras motivaciones e intenta restaurar simbólicamente un conjunto de significaciones acerca del ethos de la nación.

En este trabajo presentamos algunos adelantos metodológicos en el estudio de la dinámica del pensamiento usando herramientas geométricas. Se estudian algunas características dinámicas del proceder inferente en un grupo de sujetos durante dos periodos. Los descriptores geométricos usados (dimensión fractal y longitud acumulada) confirman los hallazgos de estudios anteriores en relación con la existencia de patrones inferenciales individuales. No obstante lo anterior existen diferencias en los patrones inferenciales en los mismos sujetos estudiados en los dos periodos.

El aumento de unidades instaladas de robots industriales y los requerimientos de sostenibilidad exigen el estudio del consumo energético. Se propone una estrategia de reducción del consumo energético, basada en el diseño de una trayectoria punto a punto (PP). Se utiliza la optimización bayesiana que permite incluir información de un prototipo experimental en conjunto con un modelo matemático. Primero, se presenta el modelo cinético basado en el trabajo virtual y el problema de optimización bayesiana. Segundo, se realiza una comparación entre el consumo energético de trayectorias genéricas, métodos de optimización tradicionales, que utilizan trayectorias multi punto construidas por splines y trayectorias PP, y la optimización bayesiana propuesta, que utiliza una trayectoria PP. Se encuentra que en simulaciones computacionales los métodos tradicionales de optimización consiguen un consumo de energía menor que a través del método de optimización bayesiana. Sin embargo, a través de pruebas experimentales se verifica la ventaja del método de optimización bayesiana que, al incorporar datos reales del prototipo y dinámicas no modeladas, logran obtener un consumo energético menor.

Measuring greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater treatment plants is of utmost importance in the context of climate change. However, due to their variability and complexity, it is a particularly challenging task in aerated reactors. The current methods involve capturing gas emissions from the water surface, measuring gas flow rates, and determining the concentration of the emitted gas at that location. Our study proposes a new, more efficient method that eliminates the need for gas flow rate measurements and additional equipment. The proposed technique uses a gas analyzer and a specially designed floating chamber to measure the transient trend of gas concentration within the chamber from the moment it is deployed to when it reaches a new steady state. Our research shows that this method accurately determines methane and carbon dioxide emissions from aerated reactors and potentially other gases emitted in wastewater treatment plants. It is cost effective, versatile, and simplifies the measurement process. This method facilitates the assessment of greenhouse gas emissions in wastewater treatment plants. Our findings are backed by comprehensive testing in the aeration tanks of a full-scale activated sludge plant, across diverse conditions, including fine- and coarse-bubble aeration. HIGHLIGHTS A simple chamber method is proposed to measure gas emissions in aerated reactors.; The method is designed for surface gas flow rate and concentration determination.; It utilizes only a chamber and a gas analyzer for simplicity and cost savings.; Together, these features offer a simplified tool for characterizing large-scale reactors.; The method was successfully applied to a full-scale wastewater plant.;