Notes on the life history of Prospaltella perniciosi Tower: (b) The External anatomy of the squash bug, Anasa tristis DeG. (c) A New hymenopterous parasite on Aspidiotus perniciosus Comst. (d) The Mechanism of the mouth parts of the squash bug, Anasa tristis DeG /

The following notes were taken during the early spring, fall and winter of 1913, and the spring of 1914. This parasite, a description of which, both male and female, was published in the Ann. Ent. Soc. Am., vol. VI, No. I, pp. 125-126, is a true internal parasite, the larval forms living within the body tissues of its host, the female San Jose scale, Aspidiotus perniciosus Comst., except during the last part of the second larval stage as at this time the entire contents of the host are consumed by the larva, which, after passing its waste, pupates in the empty skin of the scale. Both male and female parasites emerge from the empty skins of second-stage and early third-stage female scales, but by far the largest number emerge from second-stage scales. The following description of the life cycle of the parasite, which has been worked out, is that of a parasite maturing in and emerging from a second stage scale. No doubt the development of those which emerge from third stage scales is the same

Some Low Dimensional Evidence for the Weak Gravity Conjecture

We discuss a few examples in 2+1 dimensions and 1+1 dimensions supporting a recent conjecture concerning the relation between the Planck scale and the coupling strength of a non-gravitional interaction, unlike those examples in 3+1 dimensions, we do not have to resort to exotic physics such as small black holes. However, the result concerning these low dimensional examples is a direct consequence of the 3+1 dimensional conjecture.Comment: 7 pages, harvma

Intumescent Flame Retardant Polyamide 11 Nanocomposites

Current polyamide 11 and 12 are lacking in fire retardancy and high strength/high heat resistance characteristics for a plethora of fabricated parts that are desired and required for performance driven applications. The introduction of selected nanoparticles such as surface modified montmorillonite (MMT) clay or carbon nanofibers (CNFs), combined with a conventional intumescent flame retardant (FR) additive into the polyamide 11/polyamide 12 (PA11/PA12) by melt processing conditions has resulted in the preparation of a family of intumescent polyamide nanocomposites. These intumescent polyamide 11 and 12 nanocomposites exhibit enhanced polymer performance characteristics, i.e., fire retardancy, high strength and high heat resistance and are expected to expand the market opportunities for polyamide 11 and polyamide 12 polymer manufacturers. The objective of this research is to develop improved polyamide 11 and 12 polymers with enhanced flame retardancy, thermal, and mechanical properties for selective laser sintering (SLS) rapid manufacturing (RM). In the present study, a nanophase was introduced into the polyamide 11 and combining it with a conventional intumescent FR additive via twin screw extrusion. Arkema RILSAN® polyamide 11 molding polymer pellets were examined with two types of nanoparticles: chemically modified montmorillonite (MMT) organoclays, and carbon nanofibers (CNFs); and Clairant’s Exolit® OP 1230 intumescent FR additive were used to create a family of FR intumescent polyamide 11 nanocomposites. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to determine the degree of nanoparticles dispersion. Injection molded specimens were fabricated for physical, thermal, and flammability measurements. Thermal stability of these intumescent polyamide 11 nanocomposites was examined by TGA. Flammability properties were obtained using the Cone Calorimeter at an external heat flux of 35 kW/m 2 and UL 94 Test Method. Heat deflection temperatures (HDT) were also measured. TEM micrographs, physical, thermal, and flammability properties are presented. FR intumescent polyamide 11 nanocomposites properties are compared with polyamide 11 baseline polymer. Based on flammability and mechanical material performance, selective polymers including polyamide 11 nanocomposites and control polyamide 11 will be cryogenically ground into fine powders for SLS RM processing. SLS specimens will be fabricated for thermal, flammability, and mechanical properties characterization.Mechanical Engineerin

A Weak Gravity Conjecture for Scalar Field Theories

We show that the recently proposed weak gravity conjecture\cite{AMNV0601} can be extended to a class of scalar field theories. Taking gravity into account, we find an upper bound on the gravity interaction strength, expressed in terms of scalar coupling parameters. This conjecture is supported by some two-dimensional models and noncommutative field theories.Comment: version published in JHE

Related Party Transactions and Earnings Management

This study examines the association between related party transactions and earnings man-agement, based on a sample of 50 Indonesian publicly listed companies for the periods ending 2004 and 2005. The hypothesis developed in this study draw on past literature and the tenets of agency theory which suggest that the existence of related party transactions represent potential conflict of interest which may results in earnings management and appropriation by controlling shareholder to minority shareholders. The empirical findings of the study suggest that there is no statistically significant evidence of the association between related party transactions and earnings manage-ment attributes. Additional sensitivity analysis conducted with alternative measures of earnings management and related party transactions confirm the initial regression results. The results of this study suggest that the mere presence of related party transactions in Indonesian companies does not necessarily indicate that management engage in greater earnings management. This study pro-vides a valuable starting point for similar research in other developing countries