Monstrous Branes

 We study D-branes in the bosonic closed string theory whose automorphism group is the Bimonster group (the wreath product of the Monster simple group with ℤ₂). We give a complete classification of D-branes preserving the chiral subalgebra of Monster invariants and show that they transform in a representation of the Bimonster. Our results apply more generally to self-dual conformal field theories which admit the action of a compact Lie group on both the left- and right-moving sectors. Received: 20 February 2002 / Accepted: 17 August 2002 Published online: 19 December 2002 Communicated by R.H. Dijkgraaf     

Catalytic partial oxidation of methane using RhSr- and Ni-substituted hexaaluminates

This paper reports the results of experimental and modeling efforts to characterize partial oxidation of methane to produce synthesis gas (H₂ and CO) using metal-substituted hexaaluminate catalysts in short-contact-time reactors. Hexaaluminate catalysts offer excellent high-temperature stability compared to the equivalent metal-based catalysts. The hexaaluminates are synthesized by a metal-exchange process using alumoxane precursors that enable a wide range of metal substitutions. Of all the combinations tested, RhSr-substituted hexaaluminates yielded the best performance. The catalysts are supported on alumina porous-foam structures, which are positioned within a tube furnace to control the operating temperature. Two-stage combinations of RhSr- and Ni-substituted hexaaluminates are shown to improve conversion activity and selectivity compared to a single-catalyst system.     

Microcomputers and the Preparation of Secondary Science Teachers: An Eight Year Follow-Up

Science teacher educators from 205 colleges/universities completed a questionnaire concerning the nature and extent of microcomputer offerings in their secondary science teacher preparation programs. These data are reported and compared to a similar sample surveyed in 1984. Seventy-seven percent of reporting institutions now require either a microcomputer course or completion of a microcomputer competency within their secondary science certification program. The most common applications in these courses are simulations, word processing, databases, and spreadsheet use. Chi-square analysis revealed that more institutions in 1992 were requiring a microcomputer course than in 1984. However, only 23.4% of the institutions offered a microcomputer course designed solely for secondary science majors, and 10.6% of the institutions offered such a course taught by a science teacher educator. Preservice science teachers were also more likely in 1992 than in 1984 to be using microcomputers in instruction during supervised field experiences in secondary schools. Finally, college/university science teacher educators perceived that microcomputer use in secondary science classrooms has increased during the past five years.     

Poincaré series and holomorphic averaging

Summary We provide an alternate proof of McMullen's theorem on contractive properties of the Poincaré series operator in the special case of the universal covering. This case includes in particular Kra's Theta Conjecture.Oblatum 16-X-1991 & 14-IV-1992First author supported in part by a grant from the National Science Foundation     

Determination of colloidally-associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in fresh water using C18 solid phase extraction disks

A new application of reversed-phase octadecyl (C₁₈) solid phase extraction disks has been developed to separate the colloidally-associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from those that were truly dissolved in the samples of fresh water. A correction for the retention of small amounts of colloidal material on the C₁₈ disks was required, which would have otherwise lead to minor underestimates in the degree of partitioning between the two phases. Using the humic substance Aldrich Humic Acid (AHA) as a model colloid and the 16 PAHs on the US Enrivonmental Protection Agency priority pollutant list, the partitioning coefficients of the PAHs between the colloidal and truly dissolved phases were shown to be proportional to the hydrophobicity of the PAHs, as measured by their octanol water partition coefficients (K_ow). The values for the partition coefficients obtained (cK_doc′) were similar to those previously reported in the literature using alternative methods, confirming that the technique was producing acceptable results. The technique allows the in situ partitioning of PAHs between the truly dissolved and colloidal phases in fresh water bodies to be determined. It will provide an invaluable cross-check of the laboratory-based methods which often require substantial manipulation of the sample and potentially alter the partitioning between the phases.     

Analysis of some combination-overtone infrared bands of SO3

Several new infrared absorption bands for ³²S¹⁶O₃ have been measured and analyzed. The principal bands observed were ν₁+ν₂ (at 1561 cm⁻¹), ν₁+ν₄ (at 1594 cm⁻¹), ν₃+ν₄ (at 1918 cm⁻¹), and 3ν₃ (at 4136 cm⁻¹). Except for 3ν₃, these bands are very complicated because of (a) the Coriolis coupling between ν₂ and ν₄, (b) the Fermi resonance between ν₁ and 2ν₄, (c) the Fermi resonance between ν₁ and 2ν₂, (d) ordinary l-type resonance that couples levels that differ by 2 in both the k and l quantum numbers, and (e) the vibrational l-type resonance between the A₁^′ and A₂^′ levels of ν₃+ν₄. The unraveling of the complex pattern of these bands was facilitated by a systematic approach to the understanding of the various interactions. Fortunately, previous work on the fundamentals permitted good estimates of many constants necessary to begin the assignments and the fit of the measurements. In addition, the use of hot band transitions accompanying the ν₃ band was an essential aid in fitting the ν₃+ν₄ transitions since these could be directly observed for only one of four interacting states. From the hot band analysis we find that the A₁^′ vibrational level is 3.50 cm⁻¹ above the A₂^′ level, i.e., r₃₄=1.75236(7) cm⁻¹. In the case of the 3ν₃ band, the spectral analysis is straightforward and a weak Δk=±2, Δl₃=±2 interaction between the l₃=1 and l₃=3 substates locates the latter A₁^′ and A₂^′ “ghost” states 22.55(4) cm⁻¹ higher than the infrared accessible l₃=1 E^′ state.     

Moisture sorption, transport, and hydrolytic degradation in polylactide

Management of moisture penetration and hydrolytic degradation of polylactide (PLA) is extremely important during the manufacturing, shipping, storage, and end-use of PLA products. Moisture transport, crystallization, and degradation, in PLA have been measured through a variety of experimental techniques including size-exclusion chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction. Quartz crystal microbalance and dynamic vapor sorption experiments have also been used to measure moisture sorption isotherms in PLA films with varying crystallinity. A surprising result is that, within the accuracy of the experiments, crystalline and amorphous PLA films exhibit identical sorption isotherms.