Pure Spinor Approach to Type IIA Superstring Sigma Models and Free Differential Algebras

This paper considers the Free Differential Algebra and rheonomic parametrization of type IIA Supergravity, extended to include the BRS differential and the ghosts. We consider not only the ghosts lambda's of supersymmetry but also the ghosts corresponding to gauge and Lorentz transformations. In this way we can derive not only the BRS transformations of fields and ghosts but also the standard pure spinor constraints on lambda's. Moreover the formalism allows to derive the action for the pure spinor formulation of type IIA superstrings in a general background, recovering the action first obtained by Berkovits and Howe.Comment: 1+23 pages, v2: added clarifications and a reference, misprints corrected, v3: presentation improved, results unchange

Lambda's, V's and optimal cloning with stimulated emission

We show that optimal universal cloning of the polarization state of photons can be achieved via stimulated emission in three-level systems, both of the Lambda and the V type. We establish the equivalence of our systems with coupled harmonic oscillators, which permits us to analyze the structure of the cloning transformations realized. These transformations are shown to be equivalent to the optimal cloning transformations for qubits discovered by Buzek and Hillery, and Gisin and Massar. The down-conversion cloner discovered previously by some of the authors is obtained as a limiting case. We demonstrate an interesting equivalence between systems of Lambda atoms and systems of pairwise entangled V atoms. Finally we discuss the physical differences between our photon cloners and the qubit cloners considered previously and prove that the bounds on the fidelity of the clones derived for qubits also apply in our situation.Comment: 10 page

In-medium Production of Kaons at the Mean-Field Level

The in-medium mass and energy of kaons and antikaons are studied within the Relativistic Mean Field approach and compared with predictions from chiral models by taking care of kaon-nucleon scattering data. Implications for the subthreshold production of kaons and antikaons in heavy-ion collisions are discussed. We find only small corrections due to in-medium effects on the mean-field level for the relevant production processes for kaons. The production of kaons is even less favourable at high density due to repulsive vector interactions. We conclude that one has to go beyond mean-field approaches and take fluctuations and secondary production processes into account to explain the recently measured enhancement of kaon production at subthreshold energies. The situation is different for antikaons where in-medium effects strongly enhances their production rates. We also see strong in-medium modifications of the annihilation processes of antikaons and Lambda's which might be visible in flow measurements. At high density, we predict that the threshold energy for antikaon and Lambda production and annihilation become equal leading to similar numbers of antikaons and Lambda's in the dense zone of a relativistic heavy ion collision.Comment: 32 pages, 5 Postscript figures, uses Revtex and epsf.st

Marriage, Cruising, and Live in Between: Clarifying Organizational Positionalities in Pursuit of Polyvocal Gay-Based Advocacy

Varying political affiliations and theoretical leanings exist in the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) community, hardly surprising in a population that encompasses middle-class white gay men and butch leather dykes alike. Yet many GLBT organizations purport to speak on behalf of all of their very different constituents. How successfully gaybased organizations reconcile these competing interests has become a concern for academics and activists, many of whom fear the increasing homogenization of the gay movement and the resulting marginalization of dissenting viewpoints. The growing clamor over same-sex marriage provides an illustration of this trend. While major GLBT organizations litigate for the right to marry, apparently at the behest of those they seek to represent, scholars like Michael Warner worry that marriage rights for same-sex couples would only serve to strengthen the normalizing power of marriage and, while bringing the Good (married) Gay into the heteronormative fold, to consolidate the Bad (unmarried) Queer\u27s position in the margins. Under Warner\u27s conception of the current gay rights movement, the pursuit of marriage necessarily comes at the expense of articulating alternative, queer goals. Although some scholars frame the debate in such absolute terms, an exploration of the actual work being done on the ground shows that samesex marriage occupies a more complex and tenuous position in gay-based advocacy

Execution of Serverless Functions Lambda in AWS Serverless Environment

Serverless computing, epitomized by AWS Lambda, has revolutionized application development and deployment by abstracting away server management and offering auto-scalability. AWS Lambda's 15-minute maximum timeout for function execution, however, presents a unique challenge for users aiming to process longer tasks within the serverless framework. In this paper, we dive deep into the execution dynamics of AWS Lambda within the AWS serverless environment, with a particular focus on extended execution times. As serverless computing gains traction, understanding the nuances and limitations of AWS Lambda's default settings becomes paramount. This paper investigates different request handling mechanisms within AWS Lambda and presents empirical data to demystify the underlying processes. By addressing the challenges posed by long-running serverless functions, we aim to provide practical insights and potential solutions for developers and architects seeking to optimize their serverless applications. In the quest for efficient triggering mechanisms for extended serverless functions, this paper offers valuable guidance, empowering users to leverage AWS Lambda effectively while circumventing the default timeout constraints