String k-anomalies and D=10 Supergravity constraints: the solution of a puzzle

The $\kappa$--anomaly cancellation mechanism in the heterotic superstring determines the superspace constraints for N=1, D=10 Supergravity--Super--Yang--Mills theory. We point out that the constraints found recently in this way appear to disagree with superspace solutions found in the past. We solve this puzzle establishing perfect agreement between the two methods.Comment: 9 pages, Plain TeX, no figures, Abstract printed as last pag

Dill: An Algorithm and a Symbolic Software Package for Doing Classical Supersymmetry Calculations

An algorithm is presented that formalizes different steps in a classical Supersymmetric (SUSY) calculation. Based on the algorithm Dill, a symbolic software package, that can perform the calculations, is developed in the Mathematica programming language. While the algorithm is quite general, the package is created for the 4-D, N=1 model. Nevertheless, with little modification, the package could be used for other SUSY models. The package has been tested and some of the results are presented.Comment: 42 pages, LaTe

The cancellation of worldsheet anomalies in the D=10 Green--Schwarz heterotic string sigma--model

We determine the two--dimensional Weyl, Lorentz and $\kappa$--anomalies in the $D=10$ Green--Schwarz heterotic string sigma--model, in an $SO(1,9)$-Lorentz covariant background gauge, and prove their cancellation.Comment: 12 pages, Plain TeX, no figure

Worldvolume and target space anomalies in the D=10 super--fivebrane sigma--model

The fields of the conjectured ``heterotic" super--fivebrane sigma--model in ten dimensions are made out of a well known gravitational sector, the $X$ and the $\vartheta$, and of a still unknown heterotic sector which should be coupled to the Yang--Mills fields. We compute the one--loop $d=6$ worldvolume and $D=10$ target space Lorentz--anomalies which arise from the gravitational sector of the heterotic super--fivebrane sigma--model, using a method which we developed previously for the Green--Schwarz heterotic superstring. These anomalies turn out to carry an overall coefficient which is $1/2$ of that required by the string/fivebrane duality conjecture. As a consequence the worldvolume anomaly vanishes if the heterotic fields consist of 16 (rather than 32) complex Weyl fermions on the worldvolume. This implies that the string/fivebrane duality conjecture can not be based on a ``heterotic" super--fivebrane sigma--model with only fermions in the heterotic sector. Possible implications of this result are discussed.Comment: 20 pages, Plain TeX, no figure

Heterotic Action in SUGRA-SYM Background

We consider the generalization of the heterotic action considered by Cherkis and Schwarz where the chiral bosons are introduced in a manifestly covariant way using an auxiliary field. In particular, we construct the kappa-symmetric heterotic action in ten-dimensional supergravity background coupled to super Yang-Mills theory and prove its kappa-symmetry. The usual Bianchi identity of Type I supergravity with super Yang-Mills dH_3= -\tr F\wedge F is crucially used. For technical reason, the Yang-Mills field is restricted to be abelian.Comment: 12 pages, no figures, added comments in the acknowledgmen

Investigation into changes of the biophysical properties of basement membranes by atomic force microscopy

Basement membranes (BMs) are sheets of extracellular matrix that separate epithelia from connective tissues and outline muscle fibers and the endothelial lining of blood vessels. A major function of basement membranes is to establish and maintain stable tissue borders. We introduce the inner limiting membrane (ILM), located at the retinal-vitreal junction, as a model system for studying the biophysical properties of BM. We also introduced atomic force microscopy techniques as important tools to investigate the ILM under physiologically relevant conditions. We were able to determine changes in both the thickness and elasticity of chick ILM during embryonic development. We also determined that BMs are much thicker in their native state than previously thought. Proteoglycans, specifically their heparan sulfate side-chains, were found to significantly contribute to ILM biophysical properties. The effects of aging on the composition, structure, and biophysical properties of the adult human ILM were investigated. A compositional shift in the ILM was associated with an increase in both the ILM thickness and elastic modulus during aging. The role of heparan sulfate molecules in the human ILM was determined to be similar to that of the chick ILM. The biophysical changes in mouse knockout models for congenital muscular dystrophy were also investigated. These models had protein knockouts that inhibit the proper formation of basement membranes. There were differences in the biophysical properties along with visually noted disruptions in the mouse inner limiting membranes due to improper formation of the BM. This study provided novel insight into the biophysical importance of BMs and the ability to study changes associated with a variety of biological conditions that are relevant to proper biological function, in addition to setting a baseline for the biophysical properties of BMs

The M-Algebra

We construct a new extension of the Poincar\'e superalgebra in eleven dimensions which contains super one-, two- and five-form charges. The latter two are associated with the supermembrane and the superfivebrane of M-theory. Using the Maurer-Cartan equations of this algebra, we construct closed super seven-forms in a number of ways. The pull-back of the corresponding super six-forms are candidate superfivebrane Wess-Zumino terms, which are manifestly supersymmetric, and contain coordinates associated with the new charges.Comment: 14 pages, LaTe

An Ontology-based Inquiry Framework.

Quality of service (QoS) and citizens satisfaction are primary objectives for any eGovernment project. Quality can be inspected directly through measurements of speci¯c QoS indicators; in the midst of innovation processes it is however more convenient to estimate quality indirectly, through questionnaire submissions to the involved citizens. The eGovernment Inquiry Framework (eGif) has been designed as a key tool to keep innovation projects controlled also being the first component of an eGovernment service oriented architecture with semantic capabilities. Written in Java, based on well known open source libraries, exposed as a standard WSDL-defined web service, eGif helps survey campaign designers by keeping semantic information about the statistical variables used and interacting with servers for user identification. Questionnaire OWL-based ontologies are now investigated as a means to facilitate the creation of reusable survey knowledge base