A new species of Anastrepha from Amazonia : with redescriptions of A. caudata Stone and A. hendeliana Lima (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Three species of Anastrepha from upper Amazonia are described or redescribed and illustrated. They are considered closely related and are placed in the A. caudata species group. Anastrepha caudata Stone 1942 is redescribed based on the holotype, the only known specimen. Its type locality is probably São Paulo de Olivença in Amazonas, Brazil, not the state or city of São Paulo as previously assumed. Anastrepha hendeliana Lima 1934, new status, is removed from synonymy with A. longicauda Lima 1934 based on specimens from Brazil (Amazonas and Rondonia) and Colombia (Caquetá). The female is described for the first time. Anastrepha brunnealata, n. sp., is described from specimens from Venezuela (Amazonas) and probably Peru (Loreto). Anastrepha longicauda Lima is placed in the dentata species group.Se describen o redescriben e ilustran tres especies de Anastrepha del Amazonia. Ellas están consideradas cercanamente relacionadas y las ubican en el grupo de especies caudata. Se redescribe Anastrepha caudata Stone 1942 basado en el holotipo, el único especimen conocido. La localidad tipo probablemente es São Paulo de Olivença en el Amazonas, Brasil, no el estado o la ciudad de São Paulo como se asumió anteriormente. Se remueve Anastrepha hendeliana Lima 1934, stat. n., de la sinonómia de A. longicauda Lima 1934 basado en especimenes de Brasil (Amazonas y Rondonia) y Colombia (Caquetá). La hembra es descrita por primera vez. Se describe Anastrepha brunnealata, sp. n., de especimenes de Venezuela (Amazonas) y probablemente Peru (Loreto). Se ubica Anastrepha longicauda Lima en el grupo de especies dentata

Individual Perceptions Of Innovation: A Multi-Dimensional Construct

The purpose of the research was to understand and quantify how individuals perceive the meaning of the word innovation across a specific, indentified relatively homogenous cultural group. A traditional definition of innovation generally refers to the creation of a new or novel product or service. The intent was to demonstrate that a uniquely identified cultural group, involving a homogeneous group of IT industry employees accustomed to frequent innovations, might perceive a different meaning of innovation. This paper presents findings that redefine innovation, as a three-dimensional construct. Factor analysis identifies the constructs as new, improve or change. Individuals understand the meaning of innovation in these three unique (and independent) dimensions. In addition, three independent demographic variables (gender, job function, and generational cohort) suggest that variations in the perception of innovation are job-related and age dependent. Implications are that innovation is a complex concept, adapted by individuals, to describe something more than a new product or service

Impact of noise on a dynamical system: prediction and uncertainties from a swarm-optimized neural network

In this study, an artificial neural network (ANN) based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) was developed for the time series prediction. The hybrid ANN+PSO algorithm was applied on Mackey--Glass chaotic time series in the short-term $x(t+6)$. The performance prediction was evaluated and compared with another studies available in the literature. Also, we presented properties of the dynamical system via the study of chaotic behaviour obtained from the predicted time series. Next, the hybrid ANN+PSO algorithm was complemented with a Gaussian stochastic procedure (called {\it stochastic} hybrid ANN+PSO) in order to obtain a new estimator of the predictions, which also allowed us to compute uncertainties of predictions for noisy Mackey--Glass chaotic time series. Thus, we studied the impact of noise for several cases with a white noise level ($\sigma_{N}$) from 0.01 to 0.1.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figure

Effect of residual stress on recrystallization behavior of mechanically alloyed steels

This paper presents a finite element modeling analysis of deformation on iron-base mechanically alloyed oxide dispersion strengthened alloy by spherical indentations (Brinell test). Results of the model are used to interpret the role of residual shear stresses on the development of recrystallized grain structure and the temperature at which recrystallization occurs.I. Toda Caraballo acknowledges the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Inovacio´n for financial support in the form of Ph.D. research grant (FPI). The authors acknowledge financial support for this investigation from the Spanish Ministerio de Educacio´n y Ciencia through the Plan Nacional 2006 ENE2006-15170-C02- 01/ALT.Peer reviewe

Identification of a quorum sensing-dependent communication pathway mediating bacteria-gut-brain cross talk

Despite recently established contributions of the intestinal microbiome to human health and disease, our understanding of bacteria-host communication pathways with regard to the gut-brain axis remains limited. Here we provide evidence that intestinal neurons are able to “sense” bacteria independently of the host immune system. Using supernatants from cultures of the opportunistic pathogen Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) we demonstrate the release of mediators with neuromodulatory properties at high population density. These mediators induced a biphasic response in extrinsic sensory afferent nerves, increased membrane permeability in cultured sensory neurons, and altered intestinal motility and secretion. Genetic manipulation of S. aureus revealed two key quorum sensing-regulated classes of pore forming toxins that mediate excitation and inhibition of extrinsic sensory nerves, respectively. As such, bacterial mediators have the potential to directly modulate gut-brain communication to influence intestinal symptoms and reflex function in vivo, contributing to homeostatic, behavioral, and sensory consequences of infection