The coset D-branes of SU(n)

Using a nested coset construction a collection of D-branes that appear to generate all the K-theory charges of string theory on SU(n) are constructed and their charges are determined.Comment: 12 page

Decoding the geometry of conformal field theories

To certain geometries, string theory associates conformal field theories. We discuss techniques to perform the reverse procedure: To recover geometrical data from abstractly defined conformal field theories. This is done by introducing appropriate notions of limits of conformal field theories and their degenerations, and by applying techniques from noncommutative geometry. This note is a summary of our work hep-th/0308143 , aimed to be less technical than the original paper, along with some new calculations confirming our interpretation of the rescaled limiting zero mode of the Virasoro field.Comment: 12 pages, contribution to the Proceedings of the 7th International Workshop "Lie Theory and Its Applications in Physics", Varna, Bulgari

Hochschild homology invariants of K\"ulshammer type of derived categories

For a perfect field $k$ of characteristic $p>0$ and for a finite dimensional symmetric $k$-algebra $A$ K\"ulshammer studied a sequence of ideals of the centre of $A$ using the $p$-power map on degree 0 Hochschild homology. In joint work with Bessenrodt and Holm we removed the condition to be symmetric by passing through the trivial extension algebra. If $A$ is symmetric then the dual to the K\"ulshammer ideal structure was generalised to higher Hochschild homology in earlier work. In the present paper we follow this program and propose an analogue of the dual to the K\"ulshammer ideal structure on the degree $m$ Hochschild homology theory also to not necessarily symmetric algebras

Location of catalase in crystalline peroxisomes of methanol-grown Hansenula polymorpha

We have studied the intraperoxisomal location of catalase in peroxisomes of methanol-grown Hansenula polymorpha by (immuno)cytochemical means. In completely crystalline peroxisomes, in which the crystalline matrix is composed of octameric alcohol oxidase (AO) molecules, most of the catalase protein is located in a narrow zone between the crystalloid and the peroxisomal membrane. In non-crystalline organelles the enzyme was present throughout the peroxisomal matrix. Other peroxisomal matrix enzymes studied for comparison, namely dihydroxyacetone synthase, amine oxidase and malate synthase, all were present throughout the AO crystalloid. The advantage of location of catalase at the edges of the AO crystalloids for growth of the organism on methanol is discussed.

A worldsheet extension of O(d,d;Z)

We study superconformal interfaces between N=(1,1) supersymmetric sigma models on tori, which preserve a u(1)^{2d} current algebra. Their fusion is non-singular and, using parallel transport on CFT deformation space, it can be reduced to fusion of defect lines in a single torus model. We show that the latter is described by a semi-group extension of O(d,d;Q), and that (on the level of Ramond charges) fusion of interfaces agrees with composition of associated geometric integral transformations. This generalizes the well-known fact that T-duality can be geometrically represented by Fourier-Mukai transformations. Interestingly, we find that the topological interfaces between torus models form the same semi-group upon fusion. We argue that this semi-group of orbifold equivalences can be regarded as the \alpha' deformation of the continuous O(d,d) symmetry of classical supergravity.Comment: 71 pages, 1 figure, minor additions and correction

Fusion of Critical Defect Lines in the 2D Ising Model

Two defect lines separated by a distance delta look from much larger distances like a single defect. In the critical theory, when all scales are large compared to the cutoff scale, this fusion of defect lines is universal. We calculate the universal fusion rule in the critical 2D Ising model and show that it is given by the Verlinde algebra of primary fields, combined with group multiplication in O(1,1)/Z_2. Fusion is in general singular and requires the subtraction of a divergent Casimir energy.Comment: 17 page

Attractor Flows from Defect Lines

Deforming a two dimensional conformal field theory on one side of a trivial defect line gives rise to a defect separating the original theory from its deformation. The Casimir force between these defects and other defect lines or boundaries is used to construct flows on bulk moduli spaces of CFTs. It turns out, that these flows are constant reparametrizations of gradient flows of the g-functions of the chosen defect or boundary condition. The special flows associated to supersymmetric boundary conditions in N=(2,2) superconformal field theories agree with the attractor flows studied in the context of black holes in N=2 supergravity.Comment: 28 page

What Do Parties Want? An Analysis of Programmatic Social Policy Aims in Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands

Comparative welfare state research has argued for some time that it makes a difference in regards to the specific welfare state design whether Social Democrats or Christian Democrats are in government. The theory is based on the fact that historically the social policy aims of Social Democrats and Christian Democrats have differed. But can these policy differences still be assumed after almost three decades, which have been characterised by a discourse about necessary welfare state retrenchment, adaptation, and modification? More specifically, in which way have 'new' ideas altered the social and economic policy concepts? We hypothesise that the differences among the two welfare state parties in formerly conservative welfare states have largely faded away. Moreover, we argue that, in the meantime Social Democrats as well as Christian Democrats pursue a more or less common liberal-communitarian approach in welfare state policies in these countries. Our study is based on an in-depth analysis of programmatic approaches by Social Democrats and Christian Democrats in Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands since 1975. Based on Christian-Democratic and Social Democratic ideal types, we pay special attention to the development of employment, social security, and family policies. -- Ein grundlegender Befund der vergleichenden Wohlfahrtsstaatsforschung bestand lange Zeit darin, dass die spezifische Ausgestaltung von Wohlfahrtsstaaten in hohem Maße dadurch bestimmt wird, ob diese von sozialdemokratischen oder christdemokratischen Parteien regiert werden. Historisch unterschieden sich die wohlfahrtsstaatlichen Zielsetzungen von Christdemokraten und Sozialdemokraten deutlich. Können diese Parteiendifferenzen auch nach drei Jahrzehnten als gegeben vorausgesetzt werden, die durch einen Diskurs über die Notwendigkeiten wohlfahrtsstaatlicher Einschränkungen, der Anpassung und Modifizierung gekennzeichnet waren? In welcher Weise haben ?neue? Ideen die sozial- und wirtschaftspolitischen Konzepte der Parteien verändert? Unsere Hypothese ist, dass die Unterschiede zwischen den beiden Wohlfahrtsstaats-Parteien in ehemals konservativen Wohlfahrtsstaaten weitgehend abgeschmolzen sind. Zudem verfolgen sowohl Sozialdemokraten als auch Christdemokraten in diesen Ländern zunehmend einen liberal-kommunitaristischen Ansatz wohlfahrtsstaatlicher Politik. Die Studie basiert auf einer eingehenden Analyse der Programmatik von Sozialdemokraten und Christdemokraten in Österreich, Deutschland und den Niederlanden seit 1975. Ausgehend von christ- und sozialdemokratischen Idealtypen liegt der Fokus der Untersuchung auf Entwicklungen in den Feldern der Beschäftigungspolitik, der Politik der sozialen Sicherung sowie der Familienpolitik.

Humoral response in a patient with cutaneous nocardiosis

The clinical appearance of infection due to Nocardia spp. varies widely. The law sensitivity of direct microscopy and the slow growth of the organism challenge the laboratory diagnosis. We present the case of a skin abscess in an immunocompetent man caused by Nocardia brasiliensis. Diagnosis was made by cultivation and 16S rRNA sequencing. Using indirect immunofluorescence and Western blot, a strong antibody response to the N. brasiliensis isolate could be demonstrated. Serological tests might therefore be useful for the diagnosis and management of nocardial infections, copyright (R) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel